The Xcel Energy Center will be the site for an East-West showdown as the Minnesota Wild welcome the visiting Boston Bruins. It’s the final time that these two clubs will go at it in the regular season. NBC Sports Network will air the game, which gets going at 7:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 25.
Boston Bruins at Minnesota Wild Odds
Boston is 46-27 straight up (SU) and has earned 7.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 73 regular season outings, 39 of its games have gone under the total, while 33 have gone over and just one has pushed. The Bruins are 21-15 SU as the away team in 2017-18.
Boston has converted on 22.2 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that places them in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, it has the eighth-best penalty kill in the league, and the team’s successfully killed off 82.6 percent of all penalties.
The Bruins, as a collective unit, have been whistled for penalties 3.8 times per game this season, and 3.2 per game over its last five games. The team’s had to stave off opponent power plays 8.6 minutes per game over their last five outings.
With a .917 save percentage and 25.5 saves per game, Tuukka Rask (31-17-5) has been the primary option in goal for Boston this season. If Boston chooses to rest him, however, head coach Bruce Cassidy may roll with Anton Khudobin (15-13-5 record, .917 save percentage, 2.48 goals against average).
Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak will both spearhead the attack for the visiting Bruins. Marchand (78 points) has tallied 32 goals and 46 assists, and has recorded multiple points in 23 different games. Pastrnak has 29 goals and 43 assists to his credit, and has notched a point in 47 games.
Minnesota is 42-32 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 1.2 units this season. 38 of its outings have gone over the total, while 31 have gone under and just four have pushed. It’s 25-13 SU as the home team this year.
The Wild have converted on just 20.2 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 19th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 79.6 percent of all penalties.
Wild skaters have been called for penalties 3.8 times per game in total this season, and 3.0 per game over their last ten games. The team’s had to defend opponent power plays just 6.3 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Devan Dubnyk (27.0 saves per game) has been the primary choice in goal for the Wild. Dubnyk has 33 wins, 21 losses, and six OT losses to his name and has recorded a .916 save percentage and 2.60 goals against average this year.
The Wild offense will be led by Eric Staal (39 goals, 33 assists).
Boston Bruins vs. Minnesota Wild Free Picks
Free NHL Pick: SU Winner – Wild, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Trends
Nine of Minnesota’s last ten outings have been decided by two or more goals, and the team is 6-3 overall in those games.
The Wild are 19-13 SU when they serve more penalty minutes than their opponent while the Bruins are 22-8 SU in games where they spend more time in the box than the opposition.
Minnesota is 3-2 in games decided by a shootout this season while Boston is 3-2 in shootouts.
The under has hit in four of Boston’s last five games.
Minnesota has averaged 5.6 giveaways over its last five home games, its season average of 6.1 giveaways per game (ranked 2nd overall).
Boston is ranked 14th this season with 9.4 giveaways per game. That figure’s trended lower, however, as it’s averaged 7.3 giveaways over its last 10 games and 6.2 giveaways over its last five.
Boston skaters have given out the league’s eighth-most hits per game (23.8).
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