A game between two squads currently on three-game losing skids, the Minnesota Wild and the Vancouver Canucks clash at Rogers Arena. The opening face-off takes place at 10 p.m. ET on Tuesday, December 4, and you’ll be able to catch this Western Conference matchup live on Sportsnet Pacific.
Minnesota Wild vs. Vancouver Canucks Odds
With a moneyline of -165, Minnesota comes into the game as the heavy favorite. The line for Vancouver sits at +145 and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at an even 6 goals. If gamblers want to play this game’s total, they’ll be looking at odds of -105 money on the over and -115 for the under.
Minnesota is 14-12 straight up (SU) and has lost 1.6 units for moneyline bettors this year. 13 of its matches have gone over the total, while 10 have gone under and just three have pushed. As the road team in 2018-19, the Wild are 6-6 SU.
Minnesota has converted on 21.2 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, it has the sixth-strongest penalty kill in the league, and the team’s successfully killed off 83.5 percent of all penalties.
For the team as a whole, Minnesota has been penalized 4.0 times per game this season, and 2.8 per game over its last five on the road. The team has been forced to kill penalties just 6.7 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 27.1 saves per game with a .909 save percentage, Devan Dubnyk (10-10-2) has been the top option in goal for Minnesota this year. If Minnesota chooses to rest him, however, they may turn to Alex Stalock (5-2), who has a .913 save percentage and 2.45 goals against average this year.
The visiting Wild will be led by Mikael Granlund and Zach Parise. Granlund has 26 points on 11 goals and 15 assists, and has recorded multiple points in five different games. Parise has 12 goals and 10 assists to his creditand has registered a point in 17 games.
On the other side of the ice, Vancouver is 11-18 straight up (SU) and has earned 0.8 units for moneyline bettors this season. 15 of its outings have gone over the total, while 14 have gone under and none have pushed. It’s 5-7 SU at home this season.
Vancouver has converted on 18.1 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 24th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 76.9 percent of all opponent power plays.
Vancouver players have been sent to the penalty box 4.2 times per game this season, and 3.6 per game over their last five at home. The team has been forced to kill penalties 9.8 minutes per game over their last five home outings.
Jacob Markstrom has denied 29.1 shots per game as the top selection in goal for Vancouver. Markstrom has eight wins, 12 losses, and three overtime losses to his name and has maintained a mediocre 3.31 goals against average and a subpar .897 save percentage this season.
Bo Horvat (12 goals, 13 assists) will lead the attack for the Nucks.
Minnesota Wild at Vancouver Canucks Free Picks
Free Prediction: SU Winner – Canucks, O/U – Over
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Notes
Betting Trends
The total has gone under in three of Vancouver’s last five outings.
Vancouver has averaged 2.8 goals per game overall this year, but is averaging 1.7 goals per matchup in its last three contests (the team is 0-3 SU over that stretch).
Over Vancouver’s last ten outings, five of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 1-4 in those games).
Minnesota skaters created 16.9 hits per game last season, while the Nucks forced 21.3 hits per matchup.
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