The Florida Panthers (26-23-6) and Minnesota Wild (28-20-4) tussle Monday in St. Paul. Puck drop at Xcel Energy Center is slated for an 8 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Panthers vs. Wild odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
Florida is opening a 4-game road trip Monday. The Panthers are 3-1-0 over their last 4 games but lost 5-3 at home to the Colorado Avalanche Saturday.
The Wild earned a 3-2 shootout win over the visiting New Jersey Devils Saturday, snapping a 3-game losing skid. A loose Minnesota defense has led a one-time surging Wild squad (13-4-0 from Nov. 27-Jan. 4) to a mere 6-7-2 mark since. Over those last 15 games, Minnesota has allowed 3.27 goals per game.
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Panthers at Wild odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:34 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Panthers -105 (bet $105 to win $100) | Wild -115 (bet $115 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Panthers +1.5 (-250) | Wild -1.5 (+200)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -120 | U: +100)
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Panthers at Wild projected goalies
Sergei Bobrovsky (14-14-2, 3.13 GAA, .903 SV%, 1 SO) vs. Marc-Andre Fleury (16-11-3, 2.98 GAA, .902 SV%)
Bobrovsky was out in late January with a lower-body injury, but the veteran netminder has bounced back with 3 fine starts so far this month (.948 SV%). He owns a .929 career SV% in 16 games against Minnesota.
Fleury logged 4 straight quality starts from late January to early February. However, he was leaky in his last outing, stopping just 18-of-23 shots against the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday.
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Panthers at Wild picks and predictions
Prediction
Panthers 4, Wild 3
Moneyline
This figures as a mostly even goaltending battle, but give a firm edge to the Panthers in 5-on-5 play. Florida does well to create high-danger chances at a top-shelf level. It has gotten a solid depth of scoring across multiple lines and is averaging 4.21 GPG since Jan. 12.
The Wild — losers of 4 straight against Florida, including a 5-3 game on Jan. 21 — have scored just 2.22 GPG over their last 9, and that’s been with a powerplay going at a strong clip.
BACK THE PANTHERS (-105).
Puck line/Against the spread
STEER CLEAR.
Minnesota figures to stay close enough in overall scoring chances, and the goal-and-a-half is too big an ask at this juice-depleted level of a payout on the Florida side.
Over/Under
No lean: PASS.
The goaltending matchup is respectable. The overall offensive numbers for the Panthers and the powerplay for the Wild counteract.
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