Two of the NHL’s best teams on the power play, the Minnesota Wild and the Vancouver Canucks clash at Rogers Arena in a Western Conference showdown. The first puck will drop at 10 p.m. ET on Friday, March 9, and fans at home are able to watch it live on Sportsnet Pacific.
Minnesota Wild vs. Vancouver Canucks Odds
Minnesota is 38-29 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 2.2 units this year. Through 67 regular season contests, 35 of its games have gone over the total, while 29 have gone under and just three have pushed. The Wild are 14-18 SU on the road in 2017-18.
Minnesota has converted on 21.9 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that places them in the top-10 among NHL teams. Its penalty kill is ranked 18th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 80.4 percent of its penalties.
Minnesota, as a collective unit, has been sent to the penalty box 3.9 times per game this season, and 2.8 per game over its last five on the road. The team has been forced to stave off opponent power plays just 7.0 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
With a .918 save percentage and 27.4 saves per game, Devan Dubnyk (30-18-5) has been the top option in goal for Minnesota this season. If Minnesota chooses to rest him, however, the team might go with Alex Stalock (9-16-2), who has a .912 save percentage and 2.83 goals against average this year.
Eric Staal and Mikael Granlund will both lead the offensive attack for the visiting Wild. Staal (67 points) is up to 36 goals and 31 assists, and has recorded multiple points 16 times. Granlund has 19 goals and 37 assists to his nameand has registered a point in 34 games.
Vancouver is 25-42 straight up (SU) and has lost 10.6 units for moneyline bettors this year. 39 of its contests have gone over the total, while 28 have gone under and none have pushed. It’s 12-22 SU at home this season.
Vancouver has converted on 21.6 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s good enough for eighth-best in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 27th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 77.1 percent of all opponent power plays.
Vancouver players have been called for penalties 3.8 times per game in total this season, 3.4 per game over their past five games total, and 3.6 per game over their last five home outings. The team has had to kill penalties just 8.3 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Jacob Markstrom (26.1 saves per game) has been the primary netminder in goal for Vancouver. Markstrom has 18 wins, 32 losses, and seven overtime losses to his credit and has recorded a pedestrian 2.78 goals against average and a fairly-weak .910 save percentage this season.
The Nucks will be led on offense by Brock Boeser (29 goals, 26 assists).
Minnesota Wild at Vancouver Canucks Free Picks
Prediction: SU Winner – Wild, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- Minnesota is 3-2 in games decided by a shootout this season while Vancouver is 0-3 in shootouts.
- The total has gone over in three of Vancouver’s last five outings.
- Eight of Minnesota’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 6-2 in those games.
