The Xcel Energy Center plays host to an intriguing matchup as the Minnesota Wild take on the visiting St. Louis Blues. NBC will showcase this divisional matchup, and the puck drops at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, February 17.
St. Louis Blues at Minnesota Wild Odds
Minnesota (-125) is currently the favorite over St. Louis (+105), and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals (-125 for the under, +105 for the over).
St. Louis is 30-27 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 1.8 units this season. 29 of its games have gone under the total, while 24 have gone over and just three have pushed. This 2018-19 Blues team is 16-12 SU on the road.
St. Louis has converted on 18.3 percent of its power play chances this season, a mark that’s right around league average. Its penalty kill is ranked 20th in the league, and it’s successfully killed off 79.7 percent of all penalties.
St. Louis, as a collective unit, has been called for penalties 3.7 times per game this season, and 2.9 per game over its past ten contests. The team has been forced to defend opponent power plays just 6.3 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 24.6 saves per game with a .901 save percentage, Jake Allen (17-21-4) has been the top option in goal for St. Louis this year. Allen played yesterday, however, so head coach Craig Berube could opt to rest him and turn to Jordan Binnington instead (11-4-1 record, .931 save percentage, 1.69 goals against average).
Ryan O’Reilly and Vladimir Tarasenko will both lead the offensive attack for the visiting Blues. O’Reilly has 58 points on 21 goals and 37 assists, and has recorded multiple points in 16 different games. Tarasenko has 25 goals and 23 assists to his credit, and has logged at least one point in 33 games.
Minnesota is 27-31 straight up (SU) and has lost 14.2 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 58 regular season outings, 27 of its games have gone under the total, while 26 have gone over and just five have pushed. It’s 13-16 SU as the home team this year.
Minnesota has converted on 21.4 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 13th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 81.6 percent of all opponent power plays.
The Wild have been penalized 3.8 times per game this season, 4.0 per game over their past five contests total, and 4.2 per game over their last five home outings. The team’s been forced to kill penalties just 7.8 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Devan Dubnyk (25.5 saves per game) has been the primary option in goal for Minnesota. Dubnyk has 22 wins, 26 losses, and five OT losses to his name and has recorded a fairly-weak .909 save percentage and 2.67 goals against average this season.
Zach Parise (23 goals, 26 assists) will pace the attack for the Wild.
St. Louis Blues at Minnesota Wild Free Picks
Free NHL Pick: SU Winner – Wild, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- For both of these teams, the over has hit in three of their past five outings.
- Minnesota has allowed 3.0 goals per game overall this year, but has allowed 4.0 goals per matchup in its last three contests (the team is 0-3 SU over that stretch).
- Five of St. Louis’ last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 5-0 in those games.
- St. Louis skaters registered 23.1 hits per game last season, while the Wild posted 16.9 hits per matchup.
