NHL: Wild vs. Avalanche Game 1 Picks and Odds | May 3, 2026
Written by: Nick Zanghi
Published: Sun May 03, 2026, 11:37 am ET
Read Time: 5 minutes
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This series is going to be a movie with this matchup. The Minnesota Wild defeated the Dallas Stars to advance to take on the Colorado Avalanche. The top three spots on the Central were so good, we knew we were in store of another great series.
Colorado was 55-16-11 this season and the best team in the league. They come into this series off a four-game sweep of the Los Angeles Kings in the first round. It took two games for the Avalanche to get going, but they still took care of business in all four games.
To most people's surprise, they only won the first two games by a score of 2-1. The second game even went to overtime, and I think everyone expected beatdowns every game. We'll games three and four were just that with the Avs outscoring the Kings 9-3.
Even though the first two games were close, the Avs didn't allow more than one goal in three out of the four games. Goalie Scott Wedgewood started all four games and looked great. He had 24 saves exactly in all four games vs. the Kings.
Check out the odds for this matchup and other NHL games at the best online sportsbooks.
Minnesota has nothing to lose in a series they're not expected to win
Wild forward Matt Boldy passed the puck before Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon gets to him.
It was a tough first round for Minnesota and they handled it with ease. The Central Division had 3 of the best teams in the league. The Wild got the second-best team in round one and will now face the best team in the league in round two.
Minnesota beat Dallas in six games and made it look easy. That series easily could've been a Conference Finals matchup, as so could this one. The Wild have shown that are not to be played with and should give Colorado a real challenge.
Picking up defenseman Quinn Hughes mid-season was a homerun for this team. Minnesota is really going to need to lock down the Avs offense and help the goaltending out. Both goalies played well this year, but Jesper Wallstedt has got the nod for the playoffs.
Wallstedt was 18-9-6 this season with a 2.62 GAA and a .916 save percentage. He faced the Avs back in March and lost in overtime while only allowing two goals. Let's check out the odds and get into the Wild vs. Avalanche Game 1 picks.
Minnesota Wild vs. Colorado Avalanche Betting Odds and Game Information
Wild vs. Avalanche Betting Odds – May 3
| Team | Puck Line | Moneyline | Over/Under |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Wild | +1.5 (-160) | +160 | Over 5.5 (-130) |
| Colorado Avalanche | -1.5 (+135) | -190 | Under 5.5 (+110) |
Odds courtesy of Lucky Rebel – Get a $1,250 deposit bonus & 50 Slot Spins when you sign up
Wild vs. Avalanche Game Information
- Venue: Ball Arena, Denver, CO
- Date: Sunday, May 3, 2026
- Puck Drop: 9 p.m. EST
- TV: TNT, TruTV, HBO Max, TVAS, SN360
Minnesota Wild vs. Colorado Avalanche Picks and Predictions
Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin scores a goal on Wild goalie Jesper Wallstedt during the regular season.
Wild vs. Avalanche Game 1 Picks and Predictions: Game Total Over 5.5 Goals (-130) Get a $1,250 deposit bonus & 50 Slot Spins when you sign up with Lucky Rebel
I'm taking the over here. Minnesota's offense is way better than Los Angeles' so Wedgewood could be taken by storm. They know how to push the puck down ice and shoot the puck fairly well. The Wild should easily net 2-3 goals tonight.
Colorado is an absolute beast on offense, and I think will come out strong knowing the competition is much stronger. All these factors I think leads to the game going over the 5.5 goal total.
I like for Nathan MacKinnon to have a big game. He hasn't put on his normal performance of 5 or more shots on goal with a goal in there. I think we see it tonight knowing he has to step up. On the other side, I like for Matt Boldy to get 4 or more shots on goal as he was a complete menace in round one.
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Nick Zanghi
Nick Zanghi is an avid hockey fan who loves to bet on the NHL Props. He has also found a liking for the WNBA. Born and raised on LI, NZ is a lifelong Islanders #isles fan and a new NY Liberty fan #LIGHTITUPNYL. When not watching or attending sporting events, he enjoys grilling and time with his wife and kids.
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