Two clubs that split their season series (one win apiece) a year ago, the Carolina Hurricanes and the Minnesota Wild face off at the Xcel Energy Center for an East-West tilt. Fox Sports North will broadcast the game, which gets underway at 6 p.m. ET on Saturday, October 13.
Carolina Hurricanes at Minnesota Wild Odds
Minnesota (-155) is currently favored over Carolina (+135) and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals. The line for betting that total stands at -105 money on the over and -115 for the under.
Carolina is 3-1 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 1.7 units this year. That winning percentage, ranked third in the league so far this season, is a welcomed improvement over the 36-46 record from the 2017-18 season campaign.
The Hurricanes have found the net on 10.0 percent of their power play opportunities so far. That’s a fairly big drop-off from last year, when they were ranked 22nd in the NHL by converting on 18.3 percent of their extra-man opportunities. Their penalty kill has fallen off drastically year-over-year, as they’ve gone from successfully defending 77.5 percent of opponents’ power plays (ranked 24th overall last season) to 71.4 percent this year.
For the team as a whole, the Canes have been penalized 4.0 times per game in the 2018-19 season. Last year, that figure was the lowest mark in the league at 2.7 penalties per game. After serving an average of 6.2 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team’s been forced to kill penalties for 8.0 minutes per matchup this year.
With a .930 save percentage and 26.5 saves per game, Curtis McElhinney (2-0) has been the top option in goal for Carolina this season. If Carolina decides to rest him, however, they could roll with Petr Mrazek (1-1-1), who has a .841 save percentage and 3.52 goals against average this year.
Sebastian Aho and Jordan Staal will both lead the way for the visiting Hurricanes. Aho has six points on two goals and four assists this season; Staal has three goals and two assists to his credit through the early stages of the regular season.
Minnesota is 1-2 straight up (SU) and has lost 1.4 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Two of its matches have gone under the total, while one has gone over and none have pushed. It’s 1-1 SU as the home team thus far.
The Wild have killed off an impressive 81.8 percent of all penalties, compared to 80.9 percent a year ago (when they were ranked 12th in the NHL). They have scored on 0.0 percent of their power plays this year after converting on 20.6 percent (ranked 16th in league) last season.
Wild players have been penalized 4.7 times per game this season, a number that’s risen some from the 3.8 penalties per game given up last year. After serving an average of 8.6 penalty minutes per game a year ago, the team’s been forced to kill penalties for 10.3 minutes per outing this season.
Devan Dubnyk (34.7 saves per game) has been the primary netminder in goal for the Wild. Dubnyk has one win, two losses, and one OT loss to his credit and has maintained a solid 1.92 goals against average and a .945 save percentage this season.
The Wild offense will be led by Zach Parise (one goal, two assists) and Ryan Suter (one goals, two assists).
Carolina Hurricanes vs. Minnesota Wild Betting Predictions
Pick: SU Winner – Wild, O/U – Over
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Notes
Betting Notes
After going 3-3 in games decided by a shootout last year, the Wild are off to a 0-1 start in shootouts this season. Carolina was 3-3 in shootouts last year and has yet to participate in one this time around.
After averaging 33.9 shot attempts as a team last season (the third-most in the league), Carolina has attempted 38.5 shots per contest overall this season, and 38.5 in its last 10 outings.
Carolina has yet to lose a game by two more more goals this season.
Carolina skaters recorded 19.5 hits per game last season, while the Wild logged 16.9 hits per matchup.
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