PPG Paints Arena will be hosting an enticing clash as the Pittsburgh Penguins take on the visiting Minnesota Wild. Fox Sports North will broadcast this East-West matchup, which gets going at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, December 20.
Minnesota Wild at Pittsburgh Penguins Odds
Pittsburgh (-125) is tabbed as the favorite over Minnesota (+105) and oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 7 goals. The odds for betting that total stand at -110 for the over and -110 on the under.
Minnesota is 17-16 straight up (SU) and has lost 3.0 units for moneyline bettors thus far. 15 of its games have gone over the total, while 14 have gone under and just four have pushed. As the road team in 2018-19, the Wild are 7-8 SU.
Minnesota has converted on 24.3 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a figure that places them in the top-10 among NHL teams. Additionally, its penalty kill is ranked second overall, and it has successfully killed off a whopping 85.7 percent of all penalties.
Minnesota, as a collective unit, has been penalized 3.8 times per game this season, and 2.4 per game over its last five road outings. The team’s been forced to kill penalties just 7.3 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
With a .911 save percentage and 26.1 saves per game, Devan Dubnyk (13-13-2) has been the top option in goal for Minnesota this season. If it decides to rest him, however, head coach Bruce Boudreau may turn to Alex Stalock (5-4), who has a .904 save percentage and 2.65 goals against average this year.
The visiting Wild have relied heavily on Mikael Granlund and Zach Parise this year. Granlund has 33 points on 11 goals and 22 assists, and has recorded multiple points eight times. Parise has 15 goals and 14 assists to his credit (and has logged at least one point in 21 games).
On the other bench, Pittsburgh is 16-18 straight up (SU) and has lost 14.5 units for moneyline bettors this year. 15 of its matches have gone over the total, while 13 have gone under and just five have pushed. It’s 9-9 SU as the home team this season.
Pittsburgh has converted on 22.9 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s good enough for ninth-best in the league. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked fifth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 83.0 percent of all penalties.
Pittsburgh players have been whistled for penalties only 3.4 times per game this season, and 2.8 per game over their last five home outings. The team’s been forced to kill penalties just 8.4 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Casey DeSmith has denied 26.4 shots per game as the top option in goal for Pittsburgh. DeSmith has 10 wins, 13 losses, and four OT losses to his credit and has recorded a .923 save percentage and 2.49 goals against average this year.
The Pens will be led on offense by Sidney Crosby (16 goals, 22 assists).
Minnesota Wild vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Betting Predictions
Free NHL Tip: SU Winner – Penguins, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- For both of these clubs, the game went over the total in three of their past five matchups.
- The Wild are 9-4 SU when they serve more penalty minutes than their opponent while the Penguins are 7-7 SU in games where they serve more minutes than their opponent.
- Pittsburgh skaters have created 7.6 takeaways per game over its last five home games, a drop-off from its season average of 8.5 takeaways per game (ranked 9th).
- Minnesota skaters have created 8.0 takeaways per game over its last five road games, an improvement over its season average of 6.7 takeaways per game (ranked 23rd in the league).
