Columbus at Minnesota

The Wild has had a three-year playoffs drought, and have not won a playoffs series since 2003. The Wild has made improvements to an offense that has ranked No. 20 or worse the last three seasons, hitting bottom a year ago where they slipped to No. 26 at just 2.48 goals per game. Nicklas Backstrom really struggled in the net last year, closing the season with just one win in his last 14 behind the net. Columbus fared well vs. the Wild a year ago as they took three of the four meetings between these clubs. The Wild closed a year ago by dropping six straight as a favorite of -110 to -150, and that positions the Blue Jackets as a live dog in this one. Columbus is the pick.