A game between two teams currently on winning streaks, the Nashville Predators and the Minnesota Wild take the ice at the Xcel Energy Center in a divisional showdown. The opening face-off is at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, November 16, and you’ll be able to view it live on Fox Sports North.
Nashville Predators vs. Minnesota Wild Odds
Nashville (+110) is currently the underdog to Minnesota (-130) and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 5 goals (-140 over, +120 under).
Nashville is 10-7 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 2.5 units this year. Nine of its games have gone under the total, while eight have gone over and none have pushed. This 2017-18 Predators team is 5-5 SU on the road.
Nashville has converted on 21.6 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s right around league average. Its penalty kill is ranked 10th overall, and the team’s successfully killed off 83.8 percent of all penalties.
For the team as a whole, Nashville has been called for penalties 6.1 times per game overall this season, and 4.6 per game over its last five games. The team has had to stave off opponent power plays a whopping 14.3 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 29.1 saves per game with a .926 save percentage, Pekka Rinne (9-4-2) has been the top option in goal for Nashville this year. If head coach Peter Laviolette decides to rest him, however, Nashville may turn to Juuse Saros (1-3 record, .855 save percentage, 3.94 goals against average).
Filip Forsberg and Kyle Turris will both lead the offensive attack for the visiting Predators. Forsberg has 17 points on nine goals and eight assists, and has recorded multiple points in five different games. Turris has four goals and eight assists to his name (and has registered a point in six games).
On the other side of the rink, Minnesota is 8-9 straight up (SU) and has lost 2.8 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Eight of its outings have gone over the total, while seven have gone under and just two have pushed. It’s 4-4 SU at home thus far.
Minnesota has converted on just 15.4 percent of its power play chances this year, a mark that places it in the bottom 10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked sixth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 85.0 percent of all penalties.
Minnesota skaters have been called for penalties only 3.8 times per game in total this season, and 2.6 per game over their last five home outings. The team has been forced to defend opponent power plays just 6.9 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Devan Dubnyk has stopped 28.6 shots per game as the primary netminder in goal for Minnesota. Dubnyk has seven wins, seven losses, and one OT loss to his credit and has registered a 2.36 goals against average and a .926 save percentage this year.
The home team will be led on offense by Jason Zucker (10 goals, five assists).
Nashville Predators vs. Minnesota Wild Free Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Wild, O/U – Under
Betting Trends:
- The under has hit in three of Minnesota’s last five games.
- Minnesota has allowed 2.6 goals per game overall this season, but is allowing just 0.0 per contest over its three-game winning streak.
