Colorado leads the series 2-0 including a dominant 5-1 blowout in the last game, and their 3.63 GF/game dwarfs Minnesota's 2.87 GAA. The Wild are shorthanded with Brodin, Eriksson Ek day-to-day and Stramel out, weakening both their blue line and forward depth. At +195, the Avalanche -1.5 puck line is underpriced given Colorado's series dominance and Minnesota's injury concerns.

The crowd is blindly riding Colorado at -1.5 because of their brand name, but the Avalanche are banged up — Manson and Kiviranta both day-to-day — and reports suggest their lineup has 'taken major hits' this playoff run. The public always overvalues the shiny offensive team and ignores that Minnesota, at home, is a fortress the Avs have to navigate short-handed. Fade the Avalanche hype, back the Wild on home ice, and let the sheep get fleeced.