In their first head-to-head matchup of the regular season, the Minnesota Wild and the Boston Bruins clash at TD Garden for an East-West tilt. The opening face-off takes place at 7 p.m. ET on Monday, November 6, and fans at home can see the game live on TVA Sports.
Minnesota Wild at Boston Bruins Odds
Boston (+110) is playing the role of underdog to Boston (-130), and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals. The odds for betting that total stand at -120 for the under and +100 for the over.
Boston is 5-7 straight up (SU) and has recorded -5.3 units for moneyline bettors this year. That early-season winning percentage is a regression from the 44-38 record that the team managed during the 2016-17 season campaign. Of its 12 games this season, six have gone over the total, while another six have gone under and none have pushed. The team’s 4-4 SU at home so far this year.
The Bruins have converted on 27.9 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a figure that places them in the top-5 among NHL teams. On the other hand, their penalty kill is rated third overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 87.0 percent of all penalties.
The Bruins, as a collective unit, have been called for penalties 4.8 times per game this season. Last year, that number was at 4.2, the mark in the league. After serving an average of 10.1 penalty minutes per game a year ago, the team’s had to kill penalties for 12.8 minutes per matchup this season.
Sporting a .905 save percentage and 24.9 saves per game, Tuukka Rask (2-6-2) has been the primary goalkeeper for Boston this season. If the Bruins decide to give him the night off, however, the team may turn to Anton Khudobin (3-2-2 record, .926 save percentage, 2.52 goals against average).
Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak will both be offensive focal points for the Bruins. Marchand (14 points) has tallied eight goals and six assists and has recorded multiple points in four different games this year. Pastrnak has eight goals and five assists to his credit and has recorded a point in six contests.
Similar to Boston, Minnesota has been unfavorable to bettors despite a good record. The team has lost 3.7 units for moneyline bettors this year, even though it’s posted a 5-7 straight up (SU) record. Through 12 regular season matches, seven of its games have gone over the total, while four have gone under and just one has pushed. As the away team, the Wild are 2-3 SU so far.
The Wild have converted on 17.5 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 19th overall and it’s successfully killed off 80.4 percent of all penalties.
Minnesota’s skaters have been penalized 4.0 times per game this season. Last season, that number was at 3.4, which was the fifth-lowest mark in the league. After serving an average of 8.1 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team’s been forced to kill penalties for 8.4 minutes per outing this year.
Devan Dubnyk (29.1 saves per game) has been the primary choice in the net for Minnesota. Dubnyk owns a 4-5-1 record, and has registered a .913 save percentage and 2.81 goals against average this year.
Jared Spurgeon (two goals, seven assists) has been one of the top playmaking threats for the visiting Wild.
Minnesota Wild vs. Boston Bruins Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Wild, O/U – Over
Betting Notes:
- The total has gone under in four of Boston’s last five games.
