Wild vs. Blackhawks Pick
Do the Minnesota Wild have a great shot at upsetting the host Chicago Blackhawks tonight at 8PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, the Blackhawks are a -135 favorite to win on the moneyline. The Wild are a +115 underdog, while the total is set at 5.5 goals.
Minnesota comes in with a 22-17-3-1 record after a 3-2 home overtime loss Tuesday versus the Flames. Chicago is 21-15-5-1 following an 8-2 blowout win Tuesday at the Senators. The Blackhawks are 2-1 in three meetings this season, going 1-1 on its home ice and winning the meeting in Minnesota. The Blackhawks are 5-2 in seven meetings since the start of last season. The over is 4-2-1 in those games.
The Wild were paced by Mikael Granlund with a goal and an assist in the OT loss against Calgary. Jared Spurgeon scored the other goal, while Ryan Suter dished out two assists. Alex Stalock made 26 saves on 29 shots to take the loss. Granlund and Spurgeon scored in the third period as Minnesota overcame a 2-0 deficit before ultimately losing in overtime.
Chicago was highlighted by a huge game from Patrick Kane in the win at Ottawa as he tallied a goal and four assists. Nick Schmaltz had two goals and an assists, while Jonathan Toews accounted for two goals. Patrick Sharp recorded a goal and an assist. Richard Panik and Jan Rutta both scored a goal. Duncan Keith and Jordan Oesterle both registered two assists. The Blackhawks led 4-0 in the second period and after the Senators trimmed it in half to 4-2, Chicago scored another four unanswered goals to easily put it away. Anton Forsberg made 25 saves on 27 shots to notch the win.
Minnesota is 1-5 in the last six meetings. The road team is 5-2 in the last seven meetings. The over is 5-2-3 in the last 10 meetings.
Chicago has won the last two meetings and is coming off an impressive win at Ottawa, but often times complacency settles in for either of those situations. Minnesota will want to rebound after a tough OT loss and has revenge on its mind tonight. I like Devyn Dubnyk and the Wild here.
NHL DAILY PREDICTION: MINNESOTA WILD +115