The Xcel Energy Center will play host to a divisional matchup as the Minnesota Wild take on the visiting Nashville Predators. The action will get started at 8 p.m. ET on Friday, December 29, and you will be able to catch it live on NBC Sports Network.
Nashville Predators vs. Minnesota Wild Odds
Each side currently has an identical -110 money line for this one, and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals. The odds for betting the total sit at -105 for the over and -115 for the under.
Nashville is 22-14 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 5.7 units this season. 19 of its matches have gone over the total, while 17 have gone under and none have pushed. As an away team this season, the Preds are 11-8 SU.
Nashville comes into the match up with the third-strongest power-play unit in the NHL, as it’s scored on 24.8 percent of its extra-man advantages this season. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked seventh overall, and it’s successfully killed off 82.9 percent of its penalties.
For the team as a whole, the Preds have been called for penalties 5.4 times per game this season, 5.4 per game over its past five total, and 5.0 per game over its last five on the road. The team’s been forced to defend opponent power plays an unhealthy 15.1 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 29.2 saves per game with a .924 save percentage, Pekka Rinne (19-9-3) has been the top option in goal for Nashville this year. If head coach Peter Laviolette decides to rest him, however, the team could roll with Juuse Saros (3-6-2 record, .918 save percentage, 2.64 goals against average).
Filip Forsberg and Kyle Turris will both spearhead the attack for the visiting Predators. Forsberg has 34 points on 15 goals and 19 assists, and has recorded multiple points eight times. Turris has seven goals and 19 assists to his name (and has notched a point in 17 games).
Over on the other bench, Minnesota is 19-18 straight up (SU) and has lost 1.6 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Through 37 regular season outings, 19 of its games have gone over the total, while 16 have gone under and just two have pushed. The team’s 11-6 SU at home this season.
The Wild have converted on just 19.6 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked fifth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 84.1 percent of all opponent power plays.
Wild players have been whistled for penalties 4.3 times per game in total this season, and 5.0 per game over their past ten games. The team has had to kill penalties 9.2 minutes per contest over their last five home games.
Devan Dubnyk (27.8 saves per game) has been the top option in goal for the Wild. Dubnyk has 13 wins, 10 losses, and two overtime losses to his name and has registered a .916 save percentage and 2.69 goals against average this year.
Eric Staal (15 goals, 17 assists) will pace the offensive attack for the hosts.
Nashville Predators vs. Minnesota Wild Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Wild, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Trends
Over Nashville’s last ten games, seven of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 5-2 in those games).
The Predators are 8-1 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 10-4 in games where they serve fewer than 10 total penalty minutes.
Two of Nashville’s last ten games have gone to a shootout. The team is 0-2 in those games and 3-4 overall in shootouts this season.
The total has gone over in three of Minnesota’s last five outings.
Minnesota has averaged 3.4 giveaways over its last five home games, an improvement from its season average of 6.4 giveaways per game (ranked 3rd).
Nashville is ranked 14th this season with 9.4 giveaways per game. That figure’s trended down lately, however, as it’s averaged 7.9 giveaways over its last 10 games and 6.2 giveaways over its last five.
