Two clubs that are squaring off for the final time this season, the Carolina Hurricanes and the Minnesota Wild collide at the Xcel Energy Center in an East-West showdown. This one will get going at 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday, March 6 and it’ll be shown live on Fox Sports North.
Carolina Hurricanes at Minnesota Wild Odds
With a moneyline of -170, Minnesota enters the contest as the heavy favorite. The line for Carolina sits at +150, and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals. The line for betting that total stands at -105 for the over and -115 on the under.
Minnesota is 37-29 straight up (SU) and has earned 1.2 units for moneyline bettors this season. That winning percentage, the third-best in the Central Division in this young season, is fairly close to the 49-33 record the team managed during last year’s regular season campaign. Through 66 regular season outings, 34 of its games have gone over the total, while 29 have gone under and just three have pushed. The team is 23-11 SU at home this year.
The Wild have connected on 21.1 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a figure that places them in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 15th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 80.6 percent of all penalties.
The Wild, as a collective unit, have been penalized 3.9 times per game overall this season, and 3.1 per game over their past ten games. The team’s had to stave off opponent power plays for just 6.8 minutes per game over their last 10 matchups, overall.
Averaging 27.3 saves per game with a .917 save percentage, Devan Dubnyk (29-18-5) has been the best goalkeeper for Minnesota this year. If head coach Bruce Boudreau decides to give him the night off, however, Minnesota might go with Alex Stalock (9-16-16 record, .912 save percentage, 2.83 goals against average).
The Wild will continue to lean on the offensive production from Eric Staal and Mikael Granlund. Staal (65 points) has put up 34 goals and 31 assists and has recorded multiple points on 16 separate occasions this year. Granlund has 19 goals and 36 assists to his credit and has recorded a point in 33 games.
Over on the other bench, Carolina is 29-37 straight up (SU) and has lost 12.7 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. A total of 37 of its games have gone under the total, while 27 have gone over and just two have pushed. The Hurricanes are 13-19 SU as the road team this season.
The Hurricanes have converted on just 18.6 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s ranked 23rd in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 23rd overall and it’s successfully defended 79.0 percent of all opponent power plays.
Carolina’s players have been penalized only 2.8 times per game this season, 2.8 per game over their last five match ups total, and 3.0 per game over their last five games as the visiting team. The team’s been forced to kill penalties just 6.0 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Cam Ward (25.3 saves per game) has been the main option in goal for Carolina. Ward owns a 19-16-4 record, and has registered a .909 save percentage and 2.62 goals against average this year.
For the visiting Hurricanes, the offense will be facilitated through Teuvo Teravainen (19 goals, 33 assists) and Sebastian Aho (23 goals, 28 assists).
Carolina Hurricanes at Minnesota Wild Betting Predictions
Free NHL Tip: SU Winner – Wild, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- Carolina is 3-3 in games decided by a shootout this season while Minnesota is 3-2 in shootouts.
- The total has gone over in three of Minnesota’s last five outings.
- Minnesota’s attempted 30.3 shots per game overall this season (ranked 29th in the NHL), and 33.3 over their last 10 games.
- Eight of Minnesota’s last ten contests have been decided by two or more goals. The team is 5-3 overall in those games.
