Two teams facing each other for the second time this season, the St. Louis Blues and the Minnesota Wild collide at the Xcel Energy Center for a Central Division tilt. The opening face-off is at 6 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 2, and you’ll be able to see the game live on Fox Sports North.
St. Louis Blues at Minnesota Wild Odds
St. Louis is 17-9 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 6.3 units this year. Through 26 regular season outings, 13 of its games have gone over the total, while 12 have gone under and none have pushed. This 2017-18 Blues team is 8-4 SU on the road.
St. Louis has converted on just 17.4 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark that places them in the bottom-10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 26th in the league, and it has successfully killed off only 76.8 percent of all penalties.
St. Louis, as a collective unit, has been penalized just 3.6 times per game this season, and 3.0 per game over its last five outings. The team has had to kill penalties just 8.3 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 25.4 saves per game with a .907 save percentage, Jake Allen (13-8-1) has been the top option in goal for St. Louis this season. Allen did just play last night, however, so head coach Mike Yeo could choose to rest him and instead go with Carter Hutton (4-3 record, .937 save percentage, 1.90 goals against average).
The visiting Blues will be led by Jaden Schwartz and Brayden Schenn. Schwartz has 32 points via 13 goals and 19 assists, and has recorded multiple points in nine different games. Schenn has 10 goals and 20 assists to his name (and has registered a point in 16 games).
On the other bench, Minnesota is 12-13 straight up (SU) and has lost 3.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. 14 of its games have gone over the total, while nine have gone under and just two have pushed. It’s 7-5 SU at home this year.
Minnesota has converted on 23.7 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a figure that places it in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked ninth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 82.4 percent of all opponent power plays.
Minnesota players have been sent to the penalty box 4.0 times per game in total this season, and 3.0 per game over their last five home outings. The team has been forced to kill penalties a whopping 13.6 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Devan Dubnyk (28.4 saves per game) has been the primary selection in goal for Minnesota. Dubnyk has 10 wins, nine losses, and two overtime losses to his credit and has maintained a mediocre 2.81 goals against average and a .912 save percentage this year.
Eric Staal (10 goals, 13 assists) will lead the attack for the Wild.
St. Louis Blues at Minnesota Wild Free Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Wild, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- St. Louis is 2-0 in games decided by a shootout this season while Minnesota is 1-1 in shootouts.
- The over has hit in four of Minnesota’s last five outings.
- St. Louis skaters have accounted for the leagues eighth-most hits per game (23.5).
