The Xcel Energy Center is the site for a divisional matchup as the Nashville Predators head north to to take on the Minnesota Wild. The opening face-off takes place at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 24, and fans at home are able to catch the game live on Fox Sports North Plus.
Nashville Predators vs. Minnesota Wild Odds
Nashville is 48-25 straight up (SU) and has earned 15.6 units for moneyline bettors this season. 36 of its matches have gone over the total, while another 36 have gone under and just one has pushed. This 2017-18 Predators team is 23-13 SU on the road.
Nashville has converted on 20.8 percent of its power play chances this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, it has the eighth-best penalty kill in the league, and it has successfully killed off 82.4 percent of its penalties.
The Preds, as a collective unit, have been sent to the penalty box 4.5 times per game in the 2017-18 season, 4.8 per game over its past five matchups total, and 4.4 per game over its last five road outings. The team has been forced to kill penalties 11.0 minutes per contest over their last five road games.
Sporting a .929 save percentage and 29.3 saves per game, Pekka Rinne (40-14-4) has been the best option in goal for Nashville this season. If head coach Peter Laviolette chooses to rest him, however, the team may turn to Juuse Saros (8-12-6), who has a .925 save percentage and 2.37 goals against average this year.
Viktor Arvidsson and Filip Forsberg will both lead the way for the visiting Predators. Arvidsson (56 points) has tallied 27 goals and 29 assists, and has recorded two or more points 16 times. Forsberg has 21 goals and 32 assists to his credit (and has registered at least one point in 37 games).
Minnesota is 41-32 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 1.2 units this season. 38 of its contests have gone over the total, while 31 have gone under and just four have pushed. It’s 24-13 SU as the home team this year.
The Wild have converted on just 20.5 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 20th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 79.4 percent of all penalties.
Wild skaters have been penalized 3.8 times per game in total this season, and 3.0 per game over their past ten contests. The teams had to kill penalties just 6.3 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Devan Dubnyk has stopped 27.2 shots per game as the top netminder in goal for the Wild. Dubnyk has 32 wins, 21 losses, and six OT losses and has recorded a mediocre 2.64 goals against average and a .915 save percentage this year. The Wild offense will be led by Eric Staal (39 goals, 32 assists).
Nashville Predators at Minnesota Wild Betting Predictions
Free Pick: SU Winner – Wild, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- Minnesota is 3-2 in games decided by a shootout this season while Nashville is 5-6 in shootouts.
- The total has gone under in three of Nashville’s last five outings.
- Over Nashville’s last ten games, six of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 5-1 in those games).
