In a game that features a couple of the league’s top penalty-kill units, the Minnesota Wild and the Vancouver Canucks face off at Rogers Arena for a Western Conference showdown. The match will get going at 10 p.m. ET on Monday, October 29, and you’ll be able to catch the game live on Sportsnet.
Minnesota Wild at Vancouver Canucks Odds
Minnesota (-140) is currently the favorite over Vancouver (+120) and the oddsmakers have put the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals (-110 for the over, -110 for the under).
Earning moneyline bettors 5.3 units, Vancouver is 6-6 straight up (SU) overall thus far. That winning percentage, ranked third in the Pacific Division so far this season, is a welcomed improvement compared to how the team performed during the 2017-18 season (31-51). Out of the team’s 12 regular season matches, eight of them have gone under the total, while four have gone over and none have pushed. The team is 2-2 SU at home so far this year.
The Canucks have converted on 18.2 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, their penalty kill is rated sixth overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 85.1 percent of all penalties.
As a collective unit, the Canucks have been penalized 4.7 times per game this season, a number that has climbed some from last year’s 3.7 penalties per game they surrendered. After serving an average of 8.7 penalty minutes per game a year ago, the team has been forced to stave off opponent power plays for a noteworthy 12.0 minutes per outing this season.
Boasting a .902 save percentage and 30.7 saves per game, Jacob Markstrom (3-3) has been the top option in goal for the Nucks this year. If head coach Travis Green decides to give him the evening off, however, the team might roll with Anders Nilsson (3-3-3 record, .912 save percentage, 2.67 goals against average).
Bo Horvat and Elias Pettersson will both be focal points for the Canucks. Horvat (nine points) has tallied seven goals and two assists and has recorded multiple points on two separate occasions this year. Pettersson has five goals and three assists to his credit and has notched a point in five games.
On the visitors’ side of the rink, Minnesota is 6-4 straight up (SU) and has earned 1.8 units for moneyline bettors this season. Through 10 regular season contests, six of its games have gone under the total, while three have gone over and just one has pushed. The Wild are 1-2 SU as the visiting team this season.
The Wild have converted on just 12.9 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark that places them in the bottom-10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked fourth overall and it’s successfully killed off 86.4 percent of all penalties.
Minnesota’s players have been whistled for penalties 5.4 times per game this season, a number that’s risen noticeably from the 3.8 penalties per game given up last year. After serving an average of 8.6 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team has had to kill penalties for a noteworthy 11.7 minutes per matchup this year.
Devan Dubnyk (.945 save percentage and 1.96 goals against average) has been the primary option in goal for Minnesota. Dubnyk is averaging 34.1 saves per game and owns a 5-3-2 record.
Zach Parise (three goals, eight assists) has been one of the top playmaking threats for the visiting Wild.
Minnesota Wild vs. Vancouver Canucks Free Picks
NHL Prediction: SU Winner – Canucks, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- The total has gone under in four of Vancouver’s last five outings.
- Minnesota skaters recorded 16.9 hits per game last season, while the Nucks logged 21.3 hits per matchup.
