In their first head-to-head meeting of the regular season, the Minnesota Wild and the Anaheim Ducks clash at the Honda Center in a Western Conference tilt. Sportsnet ONE will air the game, which gets underway at 10 p.m. ET on Friday, December 8.
Minnesota Wild at Anaheim Ducks Odds
Anaheim (-105) is entering this one as the underdog to Minnesota (-115), and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals (-130 to bet the under, +110 for the over).
Minnesota is 13-14 straight up (SU) and has lost 3.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. 15 of its outings have gone over the total, while 10 have gone under and just two have pushed. The Wild are 5-9 SU on the road in 2017-18.
Minnesota has converted on 22.5 percent of its power play chances this year, a mark that’s good enough for eighth-best in the NHL. Its penalty kill is ranked 12th overall, and it has successfully killed off 81.8 percent of its penalties.
For the team as a whole, the Wild have been sent to the penalty box 4.1 times per game in the 2017-18 season, and 5.6 per game over its last five road outings. The team has had to defend opponent power plays a whopping 15.4 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Averaging 28.8 saves per game with a .914 save percentage, Devan Dubnyk (11-10-2) has been the top option in goal for Minnesota this year. If head coach Bruce Boudreau decides to rest him, however, the team could roll with Alex Stalock (2-5-1), who has a .904 save percentage and 3.14 goals against average this year.
Eric Staal and Jason Zucker will both be offensive focal points for the visiting Wild. Staal has 23 points on 10 goals and 13 assists, and has recorded multiple points six times. Zucker has 13 goals and nine assists to his creditand has notched a point in 16 games.
Anaheim is 12-17 straight up (SU) and has lost 4.0 units for moneyline bettors this year. 17 of its contests have gone under the total, while 11 have gone over and just one has pushed. It’s 7-9 SU as the home team this season.
The Ducks have converted on just 18.4 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked eighth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 82.5 percent of all penalties.
Ducks skaters have been whistled for penalties 5.1 times per game in total this season, and 4.4 per game over their last five home outings. The team has had to stave off opponent power plays 10.6 minutes per game over their last five home outings.
John Gibson (31.7 saves per game) has been the primary choice in goal for the Ducks. Gibson has eight wins, 14 losses, and three OT losses to his credit and has registered a .921 save percentage and 2.97 goals against average this season.
The Ducks offense will be led by Corey Perry (six goals, 15 assists).
Minnesota Wild at Anaheim Ducks Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Ducks, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
Over Anaheim’s last ten outings, five of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 1-4 in those games).
The Ducks are 10-10 SU when they serve more penalty minutes than their opponent while the Wild are 7-9 SU in games where they serve more minutes than the opposition.
Four of Anaheim’s last ten games have been decided by a shootout. The team is 1-3 in those games and 2-4 overall in shootouts this season.
The total has gone under in three of Anaheim’s last five games.
Anaheim is ranked 22nd this season with 10.6 giveaways per game. That figure has improved recently, however, as the team’s averaged 8.7 giveaways over its last 10 games and 6.8 giveaways over its last five.
Minnesota has averaged 8.0 giveaways over its last five home games, a rise over its season average of 6.3 giveaways per game (ranked second in the league).
The Ducks this season have handed the sixth-most hits in the NHL (24.1 per game).
