In their last head-to-head meeting of the regular season, the Ottawa Senators and the Minnesota Wild collide at the Xcel Energy Center in an East-West tilt. Fox Sports North will air the matchup, which gets going at 8 p.m. ET on Monday, January 22.
Ottawa Senators at Minnesota Wild Odds
Minnesota heads into the contest as the substantial favorite with a moneyline of -200. The line for Ottawa sits at +170 and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals (-105 for the over, -115 for the under).
Minnesota is 25-22 straight up (SU) and has recorded -1.1 units for moneyline bettors this year. That early-season winning percentage is a slide from what the team managed during the 2016-17 season (49-33). Of its 47 games this season, 24 have gone over the total, while 21 have gone under and just two have pushed. This season, the team is 16-8 SU at home.
The Wild have converted on 19.4 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, their penalty kill is rated 11th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 83.0 percent of all penalties.
The Wild, as a collective unit, have been called for penalties 4.2 times per game overall this season, and 3.2 per game over their last five match ups. The team’s had to kill penalties for just 6.8 minutes per game over their last five matchups, in total.
Averaging 28.1 saves per game with a .919 save percentage, Devan Dubnyk (19 wins, 12 losses, and three OT losses) has been the best option in goal for the Wild this season. If head coach Bruce Boudreau decides to rest him, however, Minnesota might turn to Alex Stalock (7-12-12 record, .914 save percentage, 2.71 goals against average).
Eric Staal and Mikael Granlund will both spearhead the attack for the Wild. Staal (40 points) is up to 19 goals and 21 assists and has recorded multiple points in 10 different games this year. Granlund has 13 goals and 23 assists to his credit and has recorded at least one point in 23 contests.
On the other side of the rink, Ottawa is 15-29 straight up (SU) and has lost 15.9 units for moneyline bettors this year. A total of 24 of its contests have gone over the total, while 20 have gone under and none have pushed. As the road team, the Senators are 6-14 SU so far.
The Senators have converted on just 15.5 percent of their power play chances this year, a figure that’s ranked 27th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 30th overall and it’s successfully killed off 75.0 percent of all penalties.
Ottawa’s skaters have been whistled for penalties 3.8 times per game in total this season, and 5.0 per game over their past five games. The team has been forced to kill penalties 12.0 minutes per contest over their last five road games.
Craig Anderson (27.0 saves per game) has been the primary choice in the net for Ottawa. Anderson owns a 13-21-5 record, while registering a .899 save percentage and 3.24 goals against average this year.
Leading the offensive attack for the visiting Senators will be Mark Stone, who has 18 goals and 26 assists this year.
Ottawa Senators vs. Minnesota Wild Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Wild, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
Ottawa is 1-5 in games decided by a shootout this season while Minnesota is 2-1 in shootouts.
The under has hit in four of Minnesota’s last five outings.
Minnesota’s attempted 29.8 shots per game overall this season (ranked 28th in the NHL), and 32.2 in their last five home outings.
Over Ottawa’s last ten games, five of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 1-4 in those games).
Ottawa skaters have accounted for the league’s seventh-most hits per game (23.6), but the team’s recorded just 18.2 hits over their last five away games.
