Bridgestone Arena plays host to a divisional matchup as the Minnesota Wild take the ice against the Nashville Predators. The action will get underway at 8 p.m. ET on Monday, October 15, and you can view it live on Fox Sports North.
Minnesota Wild vs. Nashville Predators Odds
The Predators are 4-1 straight up (SU) and have netted 2.3 units for moneyline bettors this season. That winning percentage, ranked third in the league in this young season, is fairly close to the 53-29 record the team produced during the 2017-18 season campaign. Through five regular season contests, three of the team’s games have gone under the total, while two have gone over and none have pushed. The team is 2-1 SU at home thus far.
Nashville’s successfully connected on 11.8 percent of its power play opportunities in 2018-19. That’s a significant drop-off from last year, when it was ranked 11th in the league by scoring on 21.2 percent of its extra-man opportunities. Its penalty kill has fallen off noticeably year-over-year as it’s gone from successfully defending 82.2 percent of opponents’ power plays (ranked sixth overall last season) to 75.0 percent this year.
As a collective unit, Nashville has been penalized 3.6 times per game this season. Last year, it posted the highest mark in the league with 4.5 penalties per game. After serving an average of 10.9 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team’s had to stave off opponent power plays for only 8.4 minutes per outing this year.
Boasting a .946 save percentage and 29.0 saves per game, Pekka Rinne (2-1) has been the principal option in goal for the Predators this year. If head coach Peter Laviolette chooses to give him a rest, however, the Preds might turn to the undefeated Juuse Saros (2-0 record, .902 save percentage, 2.50 goals against average).
Filip Forsberg and Viktor Arvidsson will each lead the offensive attack for the Predators. Forsberg (five points) has tallied three goals and two assists while Arvidsson has three goals and two assists to his credit so far in the early stages of the season.
On the other hand, Minnesota is 1-3 straight up (SU) and has lost 2.7 units for moneyline bettors thus far. A total of two of its games have gone over the total, while another two have gone under the total and none have pushed.
Minnesota’s scored on 16.7 percent of its power play chances this year after converting on 20.6 percent of its extra-man opportunities last season (a percentage that was right at league average). The team’s gone from killing off 80.9 percent of opponent power plays (ranked 12th overall last season) to 85.0 percent in 2018-19.
Minnesota’s players have been penalized 6.3 times per game this season, a number that’s climbed noticeably from the 3.8 penalties per game given up last year. After serving an average of 8.6 penalty minutes per game a year ago, the team’s had to kill penalties for a taxing 13.3 minutes per outing this season.
Devan Dubnyk (2.64 goals against average and .934 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for Minnesota. Dubnyk is averaging 39.0 saves per game and owns a 1-3-2 record.
Zach Parise (one goal, four assists) has been one of the top playmakers on offense for the visiting Wild.
Minnesota Wild at Nashville Predators Free Picks
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Notes
Betting Trends
After posting a 3-3 record in games decided by a shootout last year, Minnesota is off to a 0-1 start in shootouts this season. Nashville went 6-7 in shootouts last year and has yet to participate in one this time around.
The total has gone under in three of Nashville’s last five outings.
Minnesota has managed only 21.0 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Nashville has been attempting 34.0 shots per game over its last five at home.
Minnesota has yet to win a game by two more more goals this season.
Minnesota skaters registered 16.9 hits per game last season, while the Predators logged 21.0 hits per matchup.
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