In their first head-to-head meeting of the regular season, the Vancouver Canucks and the Minnesota Wild face off at the Xcel Energy Center. This Western Conference matchup will get started at 4 p.m. ET on Sunday, January 12 and it can be viewed live on Sportsnet Pacific.
Vancouver Canucks vs. Minnesota Wild Odds
Vancouver is 24-21 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 2.0 units this season. 23 of its matches have gone over the total, while 18 have gone under and just three have pushed. This 2019-20 Canucks team is 10-13 SU on the road.
Vancouver has converted on 23.9 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that’s good enough for seventh-best in the NHL. Additionally, its penalty kill is ranked 20th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 79.9 percent of its penalties.
For the team as a whole, Vancouver has been penalized 3.8 times per game during the 2019-20 season, and 4.8 per game over its last five on the road. The team has been forced to defend opponent power plays 11.2 minutes per contest over their last five road games.
Averaging 29.4 saves per game with a .914 save percentage, Jacob Markstrom (16-15-3) has been the best option in goal for Vancouver this season. Markstrom played yesterday, however, so the team could choose to rest him and go with Thatcher Demko instead (8-7-1 record, .903 save percentage, 3.20 goals against average).
Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser will both be relied on to facilitate things for the visiting Canucks. Pettersson (47 points) is up to 20 goals and 27 assists, and has recorded two or more points 13 times. Boeser has 16 goals and 27 assists to his creditand has logged at least one point in 30 games.
On the other side of the ice, Minnesota is 20-24 straight up (SU) and has lost 3.3 units for moneyline bettors this year. 21 of its games have gone over the total, while 19 have gone under and just four have pushed. It’s 11-8 SU at home this season.
Minnesota has converted on 18.1 percent of its power play chances this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 26th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 75.8 percent of all penalties.
The Wild have been penalized 3.5 times per game this season, and 2.8 per game over their last five home outings. The team’s had to kill penalties just 7.1 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Alex Stalock (25.9 saves per game) has been the top selection in the crease for Minnesota. Stalock has 10 wins, 12 losses, and three OT losses to his name and has registered a pedestrian 3.01 goals against average and a subpar .903 save percentage this year.
Eric Staal (16 goals, 17 assists) will lead the attack for the Wild.
Vancouver Canucks vs. Minnesota Wild Free Picks
Free NHL Pick: SU Winner – Wild, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- Minnesota is 1-2 in games decided by a shootout this season while Vancouver is 3-1 in shootouts.
- The total has gone under in four of Minnesota’s last five games.
- Seven of Vancouver’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 5-2 in those games.
- Vancouver skaters registered 21.9 hits per game last season, while the Wild logged 19.5 hits per contest.
