A pair of teams that are firmly in playoff contention, the Vancouver Canucks and the Minnesota Wild clash at the Xcel Energy Center. Sportsnet Pacific will air this Western Conference matchup, and the opening face-off is at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, November 15.
Vancouver Canucks at Minnesota Wild Odds
Minnesota (-215) is noticeably favored over Vancouver (+180) and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals. The odds for betting the total sit at -120 for the over and even money (+100) for the under.
The Wild are 11-7 straight up (SU) and have earned 2.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. That win percentage, ranked fifth in the league so far this season, isn’t too far off from to what the team posted during last year’s regular season (45-37). Of the team’s 18 games this season, nine have gone over the total, while eight have gone under and just one has pushed. So far this year, the team is 5-3 SU at home.
Minnesota’s converted on 18.0 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is rated fourth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 85.7 percent of all penalties.
As a team, Minnesota has been penalized 4.4 times per game overall this season, and 2.6 per game over its last five outings. The team’s had to stave off opponent power plays for just 8.3 minutes per game over its last 10 matchups, in total.
Averaging 29.7 saves per game with a .927 save percentage, Devan Dubnyk (eight wins, six losses, and two OT losses) has been the most dependable option in goal for the Wild this year. If head coach Bruce Boudreau decides to give him the night off, however, the team might roll with Alex Stalock (3-1-1 record, .905 save percentage, 2.73 goals against average).
Mikael Granlund and Zach Parise will each be focal points for the Wild. Granlund (18 points) has tallied 10 goals and eight assists and has recorded multiple points on four different occasions this year. Parise has seven goals and nine assists to his name and has recorded a point in 11 contests.
Vancouver has netted moneyline bettors 7.3 units this season and is currently 10-10 straight up (SU). Through 20 regular season contests, 10 of its games have gone over the total, while an additional 10 have gone under the total and none have pushed. As a road team this season, Vancouver is 5-8 SU.
Vancouver has converted on 18.5 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 19th overall and it’s successfully killed off 80.3 percent of all opponent power plays.
Vancouver’s players have been whistled for penalties 4.4 times per game this season, 4.6 per game over their past five match ups total, and 4.6 per game over their last five road outings. The team has had to stave off opponent power plays 12.4 minutes per game over their last five road outings.
Jacob Markstrom (29.1 saves per game) has been the primary option in the net for Vancouver. Markstrom has seven wins, seven losses, and two OT losses to his credit, and has registered a .896 save percentage and 3.28 goals against average this year.
Leading the offensive attack for the visiting Canucks will be Bo Horvat (nine goals, eight assists) and Elias Pettersson (10 goals, seven assists).
Vancouver Canucks vs. Minnesota Wild Betting Predictions
Pick: SU Winner – Wild, O/U – Over
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Notes
Betting Trends
For both of these teams, the game went over the total in three of their past five matchups.
The Canucks are 7-2 SU in games where they serve more penalty minutes than their opponent while the Wild are 6-2 SU when they spend more time in the box than their opponent.
Minnesota has averaged 8.4 takeaways per game over its last five home games, an improvement over its season average of 6.6 takeaways per game (ranked 24th).
Vancouver has averaged 3.1 goals per game as a team this year, but has been averaging 2.0 goals per contest over its three-game losing skid.
Vancouver is ranked 12th in the NHL this season with 7.9 takeaways per game. That figure has trended lower lately, however, as it’s managed 5.6 takeaways over its last 10 games and 5.2 takeaways over its last five.
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