The Nashville Predators (32-25-8) stumble into Xcel Energy Center Tuesday on the heels of an 8-3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers Monday to take on the Minnesota Wild (32-26-7). Puck drop is set for 8 p.m. ET. We analyze the Predators-Wild sports betting odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips and picks around this matchup.
Predators at Wild: Projected starting goalies
Juuse Saros vs. Alex Stalock
Saros draws Tuesday’s start after stopping all four shots he faced in relief of Pekka Rinne Monday. The 24-year-old ‘tender is 14-11-4 through 30 starts and six relief appearances with a .907 save percentage and 2.88 goals against average.
Stalock had a personal four-game winning streak snapped Sunday, allowing four goals on 30 shots in a 4-3 home loss to the Washington Capitals. He has taken over the No. 1 gig in Minnesota and is 18-10-4 with a .909 SV% and 2.64 GAA.
Place a sports bet on this hockey action or other games at BetMGM.
Predators at Wild: Odds, picks and betting tips
Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list.
Odds last updated at 11:20 a.m. ET.
Prediction
Wild 5, Predators 2
Moneyline (ML)
The WILD (-139) make for an easy play against the reeling Predators (+115). While Saros offers new hope, Monday was an all-around atrocious effort on home ice for the Preds. Minnesota also enters with a stellar 18-11-5 record on home ice. It’s 6-3-1 across its last 10 games, but dropped the most recent game – Sunday’ to the Capitals.
The Predators won 4-0 Oct. 24 in Nashville in the season’s lone head-to-head meeting to date, but the Wild are playing the better hockey right now. Minnesota ranks ninth in the NHL in Corsi For Percentage (rate of total shot attempts) at 5-on-5 since Feb. 3 at 51.91%. Nashville ranks 18th in the same category at 49.39%.
Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
There’s far greater value in backing the WILD (-1.5, +195) to win by at least 2 goals. The Wild have the home and rest advantages and can leapfrog the Preds in the Western Conference wild-card standings with a regulation win. Expect an inspired effort against a disheartened opponent.
Over/Under (O/U)
Lean to the OVER 5.5 (-134) with the odds pushing us in that direction as the most likely outcome. The Wild have gone 6-4 against the Over/Under across their last 10 games, while the Predators are 4-6 in the same span. Backing the Over follows the pick of taking the Wild to win by at least 2 goals.
Esten’s NHL betting record: 262-245
Want some action in this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.
Follow @EstenMcLaren and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.
Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.
[lawrence-newsletter]
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=2059]