Here are tonight’s NHL predictions and best bets.

Colorado Avalanche (-137) at Minnesota Wild (+113)  

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Total 6 (Over, -130)Avalanche lead series 2-1

9 p.m. ET

The Wild got themselves back in the series with a convincing 5-1 victory on Saturday and can even up the series with a win tonight. Kirill Kaprizov led the way with a goal and two assists. Quinn Hughes had a dazzling power play goal and had an assist as the two sparked the Wild to an early 2-0 first period lead. Avs coach Jared Bednar said postgame that the Wild were the hungrier and desperate team, and it showed from the start. 

One question facing Bednar and the Avs is who starts in goal tonight. Scott Wedgewood was pulled after giving up three goals on 12 shots and replaced by MacKenzie Blackwood, who made his playoff debut. Jesper Wallstedt was back between the pipes, stopping 35 of 36 shots. I am going to stay away from picking a winner, but I will go with the Over 6 as all three games in the series have had a combined six goals or more.

On to the props. The Wild were torched by the Dallas Stars, who scored 10 power-play goals in their round one series. The Avalanche have four power-play goals through the first three games after scoring their only goal on Saturday with the man advantage. DraftKings was offering a team to score a power play goal (under the goal scorer tab at the bottom), but I did not see it listed earlier this morning. BetRivers does under their Game Props tab. 

A couple of player props on my card. Nathan MacKinnon has had at least four shots on goal in all three games of the series and in five of his last six playoff games this year. The Wild’s Matt Boldy has 42 shots on goal in the playoffs, and his teammate Ryan Hartman has had at least three shots on goal in five of his last seven games. If Joel Eriksson Ek is still not good to go for game four, then give me Vladimir Tarasenko for Over 1.5 shots on goal.  With Eriksson Ek out of the lineup, he has cashed his shot prop in 13 of the last 14 games, but only three of the last six games with Ek in the lineup.

NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Colorado Avalanche power play goal (-124) – 1 unit
Boldy 3+ shots/Hartman 3+ /MacKinnon 4+ shots (+202) – 1 unit
IF NO ERIKSSON-EK IN THE LINEUP – Tarasenko Over 1.5 shots on goal (-130) – 2 units
Colorado Avalanche/Wild Over 6 (-130) – 1 unit
Colorado Avalanche to score an empty net goal (+220) – ¼ unit
Minnesota Wild to score an empty net goal (+250) – ¼ unit

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