Bell Centre will be hosting an enticing matchup as the Minnesota Wild square off against the Montreal Canadiens. It’s the last time that the two clubs will go at it in the regular season. Fox Sports North will broadcast this East-West matchup, and the opening face-off takes place at 7:30 p.m. ET on Monday, January 7.
Minnesota Wild vs. Montreal Canadiens Odds
The Canadiens are 22-20 straight-up (SU) and have earned 4.2 units for moneyline bettors this year. That early-season winning percentage is a welcomed turnaround from what the team managed during the 2017-18 season (29-53). Through 42 regular season outings, 21 of the team’s games have gone over the total, while 20 have gone under and just one has pushed. This year, the team’s 11-10 SU at home.
Montreal has converted on just 13.1 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s ranked 31st overall in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is rated 21st overall, and it’s successfully killed off 77.8 percent of all penalties.
As a collective unit, Montreal has been penalized 3.8 times per game overall this season, and 3.2 per game over its last five games. The team’s had to kill penalties for just 7.1 minutes per game over its last 10 outings, in total.
Averaging 26.4 saves per game with a .908 save percentage, Carey Price (16 wins, 16 losses, and four OT losses) has been the best option in goal for the Canadiens this year. If they choose to give him the night off, however, it could turn to Antti Niemi (6-5-5 record, .881 save percentage, 4.01 goals against average).
Max Domi and Jonathan Drouin will both be offensive focal points for the Canadiens. Domi (38 points) has tallied 14 goals and 24 assists and has recorded two or more points in eight different games this year. Drouin has 13 goals and 20 assists to his credit and has notched at least one point in 24 games.
Over on the other bench, Minnesota is 20-20 straight up (SU) and has lost 4.3 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Through 40 regular season outings, 18 of its games have gone over the total, while an additional 18 have gone under the total and just four have pushed. Minnesota’s 10-10 SU as the away team this season.
Minnesota has scored on 22.4 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that places it in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked third overall and it’s successfully killed off 84.7 percent of all penalties.
Minnesota’s skaters have been called for penalties 3.8 times per game this season, 3.2 per game over their past five match ups total, and 3.6 per game over their last five games as the visiting team. The team has been forced to kill penalties just 8.7 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Devan Dubnyk (26.1 saves per game) has been the main option in the net for Minnesota. Dubnyk has 16 wins, 17 losses, and three OT losses to his credit, while registering a .912 save percentage and 2.64 goals against average this year.
Leading the offensive push for the visiting Wild will be Zach Parise (19 goals, 19 assists) and Mikael Granlund (11 goals, 27 assists).
Minnesota Wild vs. Montreal Canadiens Betting Predictions
Prediction: SU Winner – Wild, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- The Wild are 5-11 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 10-12 when they’re in the box for fewer than 10 penalty minutes, total.
- Montreal is ranked 19th in the league this season with 7.3 takeaways per game. That figure’s trended down, however, as it has averaged 6.8 takeaways over its last 10 games and 6.4 takeaways over its last five.
- Minnesota has created 7.0 takeaways per game over its last five road games, right in line with its season average of 6.8 takeaways per game (ranked 23rd).
