All season long, we knew these Central Division playoff battles would be nasty. The Avalanche, Wild, and Stars looked like powerhouses all season long. Colorado won the battle to get the top seed, which proved crucial; it meant one of Minnesota and Dallas would be going home early. The Wild managed to win a gritty first-round series against the Stars, while the Avs easily dispatched the Kings, who had no business being in the playoffs. Now these two teams will do battle in a series worthy of the Stanley Cup Finals.

The Colorado Avalanche are a -205 favorite to win this second-round series on DraftKings Sportsbook, with a Wild upset priced at +170.

Let’s dig into a prediction, pick, and best bet for this rivalry series.

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Avalanche vs. Wild series preview

Colorado Avalanche

Start to finish, the Colorado Avalanche have been the best team in the NHL this season. It’s their fifth straight season with 100+ points, starting with the 2021-22 Stanley Cup-winning season. Their 121 points are the most of the Nathan MacKinnon era, capturing another Presidents’ Trophy. Incredibly, the Avs led the league in total goals for and total goals against, a manner of two-way dominance that comes out once a generation.

That dominance was on display in the first round against the Kings, especially in the defensive zone. Colorado held LA to just five total goals in the four-game sweep and got enough from the offense to coast into the second round. It was a bit of a surprise to not see them go for massive goal totals, but Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar won’t be held down for long.

Against a similarly strong Minnesota defense, the Avs need their top guys to show out. Rocket Richard winner MacKinnon has to be his best self, piling up shots on net and working his one-timers on the power play. Makar’s blue-line creation and ability to carry through the neutral zone is paramount to their success. But the real key here is the ancillary scoring, and where that comes from.

Colorado knows it can count on Martin Necas, who racked up 100 points of his own this season. Brock Nelson is reliable, Artturi Lehkonen has a timely sense for goals, and Nazem Kadri is an ageless playoff wonder. Is that enough to supplement MacKinnon and Makar when those two guys aren’t taking over the game?

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Minnesota Wild

This Minnesota squad is the platonic ideal of a grinding hockey team. The roster is loaded with tough defensive forwards, with guys like Joel Eriksson Ek, Ryan Hartman, and Yakov Trenin yearning to make life tough for their opponents. Longtime veteran holdouts on the blueline, Jonas Brodin and Jared Spurgeon, will keep their kitchens clean. Jesper Wallstedt can stand on his head in the net and steal games. And all of this gives the platform for their stars to shine.

Kirill Kaprizov is one of the most electric wingers in the game, racking up 40+ goals for the fourth time in five years during the regular season. Matt Boldy has joined him to form a true one-two punch on the wings, putting up 40 goals of his own. But the real star here is Quinn Hughes. The prize of the trade deadline this year, Hughes has amassed an incredible 53 points in 48 games since joining the Wild. His offensive skills from the blue line are rivaled only by Cale Makar, and it was his wizardry that delivered the series win in Game 6 against the Stars.

The defense speaks for itself, and if anyone has the combo of personnel and experience to contain the Avs, its this Minnesota squad. But can the top-end offensive talents carry the load? Will they get important depth scoring from vets like Marcus Johansson, Mats Zuccarello, and Vladimir Tarasenko? That may decide this series.

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Avalanche vs. Wild first-round series prediction, pick

Despite Colorado’s dominance, I thought the odds on this would be much closer. The Wild looked truly dangerous against the Stars, a team that was a bonafide Stanley Cup contender. Though the Avs swept, the inability to get loose offensively against the Kings is concerning, and this Wild defense is a whole lot better. Minnesota’s ability to roll out so many checking forwards to get nasty on the boards and tie up sticks will frustrate them often.

If Minnesota gets comparable play from the top-end stars, the Wild’s depth will win out. I can’t ignore their value as an underdog.

Best Bet: Minnesota Wild To Win The Series (+170)