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The St. Louis Blues will battle the Minnesota Wild on Saturday on the Xcel Energy Center. It’ll be a Central Division showdown as we proceed our NHL odds series and make a Blues-Wild prediction and pick.
The Blues lead the head-to-head series 50-49. Yet, the Wild are 6-4 prior to now 10 games against the Blues, including 4-1 prior to now five games on the Xcel Energy Center. Up to now, the Wild have won all three games against the Blues this season. The Wild will try and sweep the Blues for the primary time ever.
Listed here are the Blues-Wild NHL odds, courtesy of FanDuel.
NHL Odds: Blues-Wild Odds
St. Louis Blues: +1.5 (-300)
Moneyline: -110
Minnesota Wild: -1.5 (+235)
Moneyline: -110)
Over: 5.5 (+110)
Under: 5.5 (+110)
How To Watch Blues vs Wild
Time: 8 PM ET/5 PM PT
TV: ESPN+, FanDuel Sports North, FanDuel Sports Missouri
*Watch NHL games LIVE with fuboTV (Get Access | Save $30)*
Why the Blues Could Cover the Spread/Win
The Blues did nothing on trade deadline day, signaling a call to face pat as an alternative of mortgaging their future for a first-round exit. It has not been a simple season for the Blues. Unfortunately, it worsened as Colton Parayko will miss weeks with an injury. The Blues even have struggled to beat the Wild, not even covering the spread in any of the games.
The Blues have had moderate offensive success against the Wild. In these three games, they’ve averaged 2.33 goals per game. They scored 4 goals the last time they were on the Xcel Energy Center. Offense was not the issue. Significantly, Jordan Kyrou has one goal and one assist through three games against the Wild. Meanwhile, Robert Thomas and Dylan Holloway each have a helper in three games. Unfortunately, that is just not enough to beat the Wild.
Getting more probabilities on the powerplay could help. Up to now, they’re 2 for five on the powerplay, scoring on 40 percent of their probabilities. But they should also avoid taking penalties. Alarmingly, they’ve needed to kill 15 powerplays. Unfortunately, they are only 10 for 15 on the penalty kill. Jordan Binnington has not played well, going 0-3 with a 4.67 goals-against average and a save percentage of .837. Within the last game, he was especially bad as he contributed to blowing a 4-2 lead and losing 6-4.
The Blues will cover the spread in the event that they can generate more probabilities on offense while also getting more powerplay probabilities. Then, they need to defend the crease while avoiding taking more penalties.
Why the Wild Could Cover the Spread/Win
Grabbing Gustav Nyquist on the trade deadline has helped the Wild because it netted them a player who could make some moves on the ice. Nonetheless, it still cannot account for Kirill Kaprizov’s absence, who has been out for nearly two months. Despite Kaprizov’s absence, the Wild have continued to play well.
The Wild have had some explosive offense against the Blues. But can they replicate that without Kaprizov? They need Matt Boldy, Marco Rossi, and Mats Zuccarello to do more. Unfortunately, Boldy struggled against the Latest York Rangers on Thursday and couldn’t generate greater than a lone shot. That won’t work when you are the Wild and wish offense.
Creating space and making good passes will help them. Due to this fact, organising clear shots starts with good transitions past the blue line. Once they get there, the Wild must avoid making critical mistakes that can turn the momentum back the opposite way.
The defense remains to be the important thing factor for the Wild. Ultimately, defense can create turnovers which may then generate some offense. Filip Gustavsson has been effective for the Wild, generating a .941 save percentage and a two-goals-against average against the Blues this season. He has been considered one of the most important reasons the Wild dominated the Blues this season.
The Wild will cover the spread if their top lines can find some space and generate some offense. Then, they need to proceed to defend the crease and never allow Kyrou and friends to have probabilities.
Final Blues-Wild Prediction & Pick
The Blues are 37-28 against the spread, while the Wild are 31-34 against the spread. Moreover, the Blues are 19-13 against the spread on the road, while the Wild are 9-21 against the spread at home. The Blues are 27-34-4 against the over/under, while the Wild are 28-35-2 against the over/under.
The Blues have struggled against the Wild. Nonetheless, I feel they’ll compete against a Wild team that has only won three games because the injury. While I’m not going to offer the Blues the win, I do think they’ll do enough to maintain it close. Due to this fact, I’m expecting the Blues to seek out a option to cover the spread on the road.
Final Blues-Wild Prediction & Pick: St. Louis Blues: +1.5 (-300)
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