Matching up for the third and final time this season, the Minnesota Wild and the Anaheim Ducks clash at the Honda Center for a Western Conference tilt. Sportsnet 360 will broadcast the matchup, and the puck drops at 10 p.m. ET on Wednesday, April 4.
Minnesota Wild vs. Anaheim Ducks Odds
Minnesota is 44-35 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 1.0 unit this season. Through 79 regular season matches, 39 of its games have gone over the total, while 36 have gone under and just four have pushed. This 2017-18 Wild team is 17-21 SU on the road.
Minnesota has converted on 20.4 percent of its power play chances this year, a mark that’s right around league average. Its penalty kill is ranked 15th out of 31 teams, and it’s successfully killed off 80.8 percent of its penalties.
For the team as a whole, the Wild have been penalized 3.7 times per game overall in the 2017-18 season, 3.2 per game over its past five matchups total, and 3.2 per game over its last five road outings. The team’s had to kill penalties just 6.6 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
With a .918 save percentage and 27.1 saves per game, Devan Dubnyk (35-23-7) has been the best option in goal for Minnesota this season. If it chooses to rest him, however, head coach Bruce Boudreau might go with Alex Stalock (10-17-3), who has a .913 save percentage and 2.76 goals against average this year.
Eric Staal and Mikael Granlund will both look to continue their strong seasons for the visiting Wild. Staal has 74 points via 40 goals and 34 assists, and has recorded two or more points in 17 different games. Granlund has 20 goals and 44 assists to his credit (and has registered a point in 41 games).
Anaheim is 41-38 straight up (SU) and has lost 0.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 79 regular season contests, 47 of its games have gone under the total, while 31 have gone over and just one has pushed. It’s 24-15 SU as the home team this year.
The Ducks have converted on just 17.1 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a mark that places them in the bottom 10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked fifth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 83.0 percent of all opponent power plays.
Ducks players have been whistled for penalties 4.2 times per game in total this season, and 2.6 per game over their last five games. The team’s had to defend opponent power plays just 7.5 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
John Gibson (28.9 saves per game) has been the top choice in goal for the Ducks. Gibson has 33 wins, 27 losses, and eight overtime losses and has recorded a 2.43 goals against average and a .926 save percentage this year.
The home team will be led on offense by Rickard Rakell (32 goals, 34 assists).
Minnesota Wild vs. Anaheim Ducks Betting Picks
Free Pick: SU Winner – Wild, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- Anaheim is 4-7 in games decided by a shootout this season while Minnesota is 3-3 in shootouts.
- The total has gone under in three of Anaheim’s last five games.
- Minnesota has managed 30.4 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Anaheim has been attempting 36.8 shots per game over its last five at home.
- Over Minnesota’s last ten games, seven of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 5-2 in those games).
- The Ducks this season have handed the sixth-most hits per game (24.0).
