In a game that features two teams currently on winning streaks, the Minnesota Wild and the Edmonton Oilers clash at Rogers Place in a Western Conference showdown. CBC Sports will air the game, and the opening face-off takes place at 10 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 10.
Minnesota Wild at Edmonton Oilers Odds
Minnesota is 39-29 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 2.2 units this year. 35 of its contests have gone over the total, while 29 have gone under and just three have pushed. The Wild are 15-18 SU on the road in 2017-18.
Minnesota has converted on 21.7 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s good enough for seventh-best in the league. Its penalty kill is ranked 17th out of 31 teams, and it has successfully killed off 80.5 percent of all penalties.
The Wild, as a collective unit, have been whistled for penalties 3.8 times per game this season, and 2.2 per game over its last five road outings. The team has had to stave off opponent power plays just 6.1 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
With a .918 save percentage and 27.4 saves per game, Devan Dubnyk (31-18-5) has been the best option in goal for Minnesota this year. Dubnyk played last night, however, so the team might choose to rest him and turn to Alex Stalock instead (9-16-2 record, .912 save percentage, 2.83 goals against average).
Eric Staal and Mikael Granlund will both spearhead the attack for the visiting Wild. Staal (68 points) has tallied 37 goals and 31 assists, and has recorded multiple points in 17 different games. Granlund has 19 goals and 38 assists to his credit (and has notched at least one point in 35 games).
Edmonton is 29-38 straight up (SU) and has lost 16.4 units for moneyline bettors this year. 32 of its matches have gone over the total, while another 32 have gone under and just three have pushed. This year, the team is 15-19 SU at home.
The Oilers have converted on just 14.2 percent of their power play chances this year, a figure that places them in the bottom overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 31st overall, and it’s successfully killed off 74.0 percent of all opponent power plays.
Edmonton skaters have been penalized 3.7 times per game in total this season, and 2.6 per game over their last five home outings. The teams had to defend opponent power plays just 6.5 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Cam Talbot (27.3 saves per game) has been the top choice in goal for the Oilers. Talbot has 25 wins, 29 losses, and two overtime losses to his name and has recorded a mediocre 3.07 goals against average and a fairly-weak .905 save percentage this year.
Connor McDavid (31 goals, 50 assists) will pace the attack for the home team.
Minnesota Wild at Edmonton Oilers Betting Predictions
Free Pick: SU Winner – Oilers, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- Two of Edmonton’s last ten games have gone to a shootout. The team is 2-0 in those games and 4-1 overall in shootouts this year.
- The over has hit in four of Minnesota’s last five games.
- Minnesota has managed 32.8 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Edmonton is averaging 38.2 shots per game over its last five home outings.
- Nine of Minnesota’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 7-2 in those games.
- The Oilers this season have recorded the most hits per game (27.2), but the club has averaged 31.8 over their past five games as the home team.
