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Read Article Wild vs. Avalanche prediction: Why Colorado is favored to win Game 1 [2026]
Updated: | First published:
Written by Nick Slade, Chief Content Officer
Get Minnesota Wild vs Colorado Avalanche predictions for NHL Sunday.
NHL Playoffs action continues on Sunday at 9:00 PM ET as the Minnesota Wild lock horns with the Colorado Avalanche in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena.
Based on updated simulations, Dimers' proven NHL model predicts the Avalanche as the most likely winner of the Wild vs. Avalanche Game 1 matchup.
This article offers further insights into Sunday's matchup, including projected goal scorers, best bets and player prop picks.
Wild vs. Avs prediction: Who will win Game 1?
Using powerful machine learning and data, we have simulated the result of Sunday's NHL Playoffs matchup between the Wild and Avalanche, forming part of our NHL predictions coverage.
Our leading predictive model currently gives the Avalanche a 63% chance of beating the Wild in Game 1 of the series.
According to our model, the Wild (+1.5) have a 60% chance of covering the puck line, while the over/under total of 6.5 goals has a 57% chance of staying under.
Wild vs. Avalanche Game 1 odds
We have sourced the best NHL odds in America for this game, which are listed here:
| Bet Type | Wild | Avalanche |
|---|---|---|
| Puck Line | +1.5 (-148) | -1.5 (+125) |
| Moneyline | +170 | -200 |
| Total | o6.5 (+114) | u6.5 (-135) |
All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
Wild vs. Avalanche picks and best bet for Game 1
After matching our predictions against the best available odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:
| Bet Type | Pick | Bet Now |
|---|---|---|
| Puck Line | Wild +1.5 | -148 |
| Moneyline | Wild | +170 |
| Total | Under 6.5 | -135 |
According to our best NHL bets, the top play to make on this game is Wild to win.
These picks are based on our probabilities matched against the implied probabilities from the sportsbook odds.
Wild vs. Avalanche player props
Who will score a goal in Wild vs. Avalanche?
According to our model, Kirill Kaprizov is most likely to score an anytime goal in Wild vs. Avalanche.
Our projections give Kaprizov a 35.9% chance of scoring a goal at Ball Arena, while the star is a 7.8% chance of netting the first goal the game.
Anytime goal scorer predictions
Minnesota Wild
| Player | Anytime Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Kirill Kaprizov | 35.9% |
| Matt Boldy | 31.9% |
| Ryan Hartman | 20.3% |
| Vladimir Tarasenko | 19.0% |
| Danila Yurov | 18.5% |
Colorado Avalanche
| Player | Anytime Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Nathan MacKinnon | 33.6% |
| Martin Necas | 29.5% |
| Gabriel Landeskog | 28.3% |
| Valeri Nichushkin | 27.3% |
| Artturi Lehkonen | 24.3% |
First goal scorer predictions
Minnesota Wild
| Player | First Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Kirill Kaprizov | 7.8% |
| Matt Boldy | 6.3% |
| Ryan Hartman | 3.6% |
| Danila Yurov | 3.4% |
| Vladimir Tarasenko | 3.3% |
Colorado Avalanche
| Player | First Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Nathan MacKinnon | 6.6% |
| Martin Necas | 6.0% |
| Gabriel Landeskog | 5.1% |
| Valeri Nichushkin | 4.9% |
| Cale Makar | 4.7% |
Wild vs. Avs Game 1 updates and essential details
Sunday's Game 1 between the Avalanche and Wild in the NHL Playoffs is scheduled to commence at 9:00 PM ET.
- Who: Minnesota Wild vs. Colorado Avalanche
- Date: Sunday, May 3, 2026
- Time: 9:00 PM ET/6:00PM PT
- Venue: Ball Arena
The Stanley Cup Playoffs is the National Hockey League's postseason elimination tournament to decide the winner of the Stanley Cup.
Sixteen teams, including the Wild and Avalanche, made the NHL Playoffs 2026, which includes four rounds: the First Round, Second Round, Conference Finals and Stanley Cup Finals.
Each round is played as a best-of-seven series, with the first team to four wins advancing to the next round until a champion is crowned.
Conclusion
We predict the Avalanche, with a 63% win probability, will likely beat the Wild in Sunday's NHL matchup.
Additional tools and information for betting safely can be found in our Responsible Gambling hub.
Nick Slade, with nearly two decades of experience, is the Chief Content Officer at Cipher Sports Technology Group, overseeing content for Dimers. He specializes in soccer, NBA, and NHL betting, leveraging predictive analytics and machine learning to provide accurate betting insights.
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