The Minnesota Wild seek to level their best-of-seven series against the Colorado Avalanche in Game 2 of the 2026 NHL playoffs on Tuesday night. After suffering a 9-6 defeat in the series opener, the Wild, who finished the season with a record of 46-24-12, look to capitalize on their strong 23-14-4 away performance this year.

The Avalanche, the top seed in the playoffs with a stellar 55-16-11 record, dominated at home, holding a 26-9-6 record at Ball Arena in Denver. Puck drop is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.

Betting Insights:

• Avalanche Money Line: -205 (risk $205 to win $100)
• Wild Money Line: +XXX
• Over/Under: 5.5 goals
• Puck Line: Avalanche -1.5 (+120)

The SportsLine Projection Model has simulated this matchup 10,000 times, demonstrating a favorable outlook for the Over on total goals, predicting a combined total of 6.6 goals. Notably, the total exceeded 5.5 goals in the first game by over 8 goals and has gone Over in four of the Wild's last five outings.

Key Player Projections:

• Minnesota Wild:

  • Kirill Kaprizov: 0.59 goals, 0.63 assists
  • Jesper Wallstedt: 28 saves, allows 3.4 goals

• Colorado Avalanche:

  • Nathan MacKinnon: 0.65 goals, 0.96 assists
  • Scott Wedgewood: 21.9 saves, allows 2.93 goals

As the series progresses, the Wild must find a way to counter the Avalanche's offensive prowess while aiming for a critical victory to tie the series. For more insights and betting strategies, check the SportsLine model’s predictions.