Two teams that each took the ice last night, the Minnesota Wild and the Chicago Blackhawks meet at the United Center for a divisional tilt. The match gets started at 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday, January 10, and it is being shown live on NBC Sports Network.
Minnesota Wild vs. Chicago Blackhawks Odds
Chicago (-115) is currently favored over Minnesota (-105), and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals. The odds for betting that total stand at -105 money on the over and -115 for the under.
Minnesota is 22-21 straight up (SU) and has lost 0.9 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 43 regular season matches, 23 of its games have gone over the total, while 17 have gone under and just two have pushed. This 2017-18 Wild team is 8-14 SU on the road.
Minnesota has converted on 18.8 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that’s right around league average. Additionally, it has the ninth-best penalty kill in the league, and it has successfully killed off 83.1 percent of its penalties.
For the team as a whole, the Wild have been whistled for penalties 4.4 times per game overall in the 2017-18 season, and 5.0 per game over its last five on the road. The teams had to defend opponent power plays 11.4 minutes per game over their last five road outings.
With a .916 save percentage and 28.2 saves per game, Devan Dubnyk (16-11-2) has been the primary option in goal for Minnesota this year. If it chooses to rest him, however, head coach Bruce Boudreau may turn to Alex Stalock (7-12-2 record, .914 save percentage, 2.71 goals against average).
Eric Staal and Mikael Granlund will both be relied on to facilitate things for the visiting Wild. Staal (37 points) has tallied 19 goals and 18 assists, and has recorded two or more points in 10 different games. Granlund has 12 goals and 20 assists to his name (and has registered at least one point in 19 games).
On the other bench, Chicago is 21-21 straight up (SU) and has lost 3.6 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 42 regular season contests, 21 of its games have gone under the total, while 18 have gone over and just two have pushed. This year, the teams 11-8 SU as the home team.
The Blackhawks have converted on just 16.5 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s ranked 23rd in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 15th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 81.3 percent of all penalties.
Blackhawks players have been called for penalties 3.7 times per game in total this season, and 2.4 per game over their last five home outings. The team has been forced to kill penalties just 8.7 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Corey Crawford has stopped 27.9 shots per game as the primary choice in goal for the Blackhawks. Crawford has 16 wins, 12 losses, and two overtime losses to his credit and has maintained a .929 save percentage and 2.27 goals against average this season.
The home team offense will be led by Patrick Kane (18 goals, 27 assists).
Minnesota Wild vs. Chicago Blackhawks Free Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Blackhawks, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- The over has hit in four of Chicago’s last five outings.
- The Blackhawks are 7-4 in games where they take 10+ shots more than their opponent. They’ve averaged the leagues most shots on goal (34.7) while the Wild have attempted the 29th-most (only 34.7).
