The Xcel Energy Center is the site for an intriguing tilt as the Minnesota Wild take the ice against the visiting Boston Bruins. It’s the last time that the two clubs will go at it in the regular season. New England Sports Network will broadcast this East-West matchup, which gets going at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, February 1.
Boston Bruins vs. Minnesota Wild Odds
Minnesota (+125) is currently the underdog to Boston (-145), and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals (-120 money on the under, +100 on the over).
Boston is 30-22 straight up (SU) and has lost 6.3 units for bettors taking the moneyline thus far. 26 of its matches have gone under the total, while 22 have gone over and just three have pushed. This 2019-20 Bruins team is 13-11 SU on the road.
Boston comes into the match up with the third-strongest power-play unit in the NHL, as it’s scored on 26.0 percent of its extra-man chances this year. Additionally, it has the third-strongest penalty kill in the league, and the team’s successfully killed off 83.9 percent of its penalties.
For the team as a whole, Boston has been sent to the penalty box 3.8 times per game overall this season, and 5.0 per game over its last five outings. The team has had to kill penalties a whopping 14.0 minutes per game over their last five outings.
With a .927 save percentage and 27.7 saves per game, Tuukka Rask (18-11-6) has been the best option in goal for Boston this year. Rask did just play last night, however, so the team may opt to rest him and roll with Jaroslav Halak instead (12-12-6 record, .918 save percentage, 2.47 goals against average).
The visiting Bruins have relied on David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand heavily this season. Pastrnak has 72 points via 37 goals and 35 assists, and has recorded multiple points in 21 different games. Marchand has 21 goals and 45 assists to his name, and has notched at least one point in 37 games.
On the other side of the rink, Minnesota is 23-27 straight up (SU) and has lost 3.6 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Through 50 regular season contests, 24 of its games have gone over the total, while 21 have gone under and just five have pushed. It’s 14-10 SU at home this season.
Minnesota has converted on 20.5 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 27th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 74.8 percent of all penalties.
Minnesota players have been penalized 3.5 times per game this season, 3.0 per game over their last five match ups total, and 3.8 per game over their last five at home. The team has had to kill penalties just 8.2 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Alex Stalock (25.4 saves per game) has been the top choice in goal for Minnesota. Stalock has 12 wins, 13 losses, and three OT losses and has registered a subpar .903 save percentage and 2.93 goals against average this season.
The home team offense will be led by Eric Staal (17 goals, 21 assists).
Boston Bruins at Minnesota Wild Betting Predictions
Prediction: SU Winner – Wild, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- For both of these clubs, the game went over the total in three of their last five matchups.
- The Bruins are 10-6 SU in games where they serve more penalty minutes than their opponent while the Wild are 7-11 SU when they serve more minutes than their opponent.
- Minnesota is 1-2 in games decided by a shootout this season while Boston is 0-7 in shootouts.
- Minnesota skaters have created 6.8 takeaways per game over its last five home games, right in line with its season average of 6.9 takeaways per game (ranked 19th in the league).
- Boston is ranked 16th overall with 7.7 takeaways per game. That figure has trended lower, however, as the team has managed 5.6 takeaways over its last 10 games and 4.0 takeaways over its last five.
