The Xcel Energy Center will be the site for a Central Division matchup as the Minnesota Wild welcome the visiting Nashville Predators. The matchup gets going at 8 p.m. ET on Friday, December 29, and fans at home will be able to catch the game live on NBC Sports Network.
Nashville Predators vs. Minnesota Wild Odds
The money line for each side is currently set at an identical -110 and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals (-105 for the over, -115 for the under).
Nashville is 22-14 straight up (SU) and has earned 5.7 units for moneyline bettors this year. 19 of its contests have gone over the total, while 17 have gone under and none have pushed. As the away team in 2017-18, the Preds are 11-8 SU.
Nashville currently touts the third-best power-play unit in the NHL, as it’s found the net on 24.8 percent of its extra-man opportunities this year. On the other hand, it has the seventh-strongest penalty kill in the league, and it has successfully killed off 82.9 percent of all penalties.
The Preds, as a collective unit, have been penalized 5.4 times per game this season, 5.4 per game over its past five matchups total, and 5.0 per game over its last five games as the visiting team. The teams had to kill penalties a whopping 15.1 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
With a .924 save percentage and 29.2 saves per game, Pekka Rinne (19-9-3) has been the primary option in goal for Nashville this season. If it chooses to give him a rest, however, head coach Peter Laviolette could go with Juuse Saros (3-6-2 record, .918 save percentage, 2.64 goals against average).
Filip Forsberg and Kyle Turris will both be relied on to produce for the visiting Predators. Forsberg has 34 points on 15 goals and 19 assists, and has recorded multiple points in eight different games. Turris has seven goals and 19 assists to his credit (and has registered a point in 17 games).
On the other side of the ice, Minnesota is 19-18 straight up (SU) and has lost 1.6 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 37 regular season matches, 19 of its games have gone over the total, while 16 have gone under and just two have pushed. This season, the teams 11-6 SU as the home team.
The Wild have converted on just 19.6 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked fifth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 84.1 percent of all penalties.
Minnesota players have been penalized 4.3 times per game in total this season, and 5.0 per game over their past ten games. The team has been forced to defend opponent power plays 9.2 minutes per game over their last five home outings.
Devan Dubnyk (27.8 saves per game) has been the primary selection in goal for the Wild. Dubnyk has 13 wins, 10 losses, and two OT losses to his name and has maintained a pedestrian 2.69 goals against average and a .916 save percentage this year.
Eric Staal (15 goals, 17 assists) will lead the offensive counter for Minnesota.
Nashville Predators vs. Minnesota Wild Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Wild, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- Two of Nashville’s last ten games have ended in a shootout. The team is 0-2 in those games and 3-4 overall in shootouts this season.
- The over has hit in three of Minnesota’s last five outings.
- Seven of Nashville’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 5-2 in those games.
