The Minnesota Wild (16-11-2) will look to win their fourth consecutive game on Friday night as they host the struggling Chicago Blackhawks (7-17-4).
The Blackhawks vs Wild picks are one of just three NHL games on the NHL schedule for Friday night.
Performance Recap
Marc-Andre Fleury is expected to start for the Minnesota Wild standings, while Petr Mrazek gets the nod for the Blackhawks.
Fleury is 10-7-1 this season with a 3.05 goals-against average (GAA) and a .895 save percentage. Mrazek, meanwhile, is 2-6-1 with a 4.37 GAA and a .873 save percentage.
Minnesota has allowed just two goals during its three-game winning streak. They’re 7-3 in their last ten games and coming off of a 4-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings.
Chicago has lost five in a row and is in the running with the Anaheim Ducks and Arizona Coyotes for last place in the NHL standings.
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Minnesota Wild Odds
Minnesota has the heavy favorite for the Blackhawks vs Wild picks, which shouldn’t be a surprise.
The Wild are favored -390, which is among the shortest odds any team has had to win a game this season. The Blackhawks pay out +338 on the moneyline.
Minnesota is paying out -142 on the -1.5 puckline, while the Blackhawks are listed at +122 on the +1.5 puckline.
The over/under for the Blackhawks vs Wild picks is 6, with the over and under paying out -107 and -103, respectively.
Matchup Information
- Date and Time: December 16, 2022, 8 p.m. EST
- Venue: Xcel Energy Center
- Location: St. Paul, Minnesota
- How to Watch: TVAS
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Minnesota Wild Betting Preview
Minnesota has been one of the best NHL teams in the league as of late. They’re 7-3-0 in their last ten games and have allowed just two goals in their last three games. They’re 9-6-1 on home ice.
The Wild are still middle of the pack in terms of goals scored and allowed per game. They’ve averaged 3.07 goals (T16th) and 2.93 goals against (14th).
They take a league-high 12.7 penalty minutes per game and have the 13th-best penalty kill at 79.6 percent.
NHL Player Stats
Kirill Kaprizov leads Minnesota in NHL player stats with 36 points in 29 games. Mats Zuccarello has 30 points in 29 games, and Joel Eriksson Ek is third with 24 points.
The Chicago Blackhawks schedule hasn’t been kind this season, but that was to be expected given the direction of the team.
New general manager Kyle Davidson implemented a scorched earth plan this past offseason, trading Alex DeBrincat and Kirby Dach, among others.
Chicago is in full tank mode and may eventually deal with Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews before the trade deadline.
Blackhawks Qualification
Chicago is among the worst teams in the league in almost all offensive and defensive stat categories.
Kane leads the team with just 21 points in 28 games, while Max Domi ranks second with 20 points. Toews is third with 16 points.
Tyler Johnson is day-to-day for the Blackhawks with an ankle injury, while Ryan Hartman is on the NHL injury report for the Wild with an upper-body injury.
Starting Goaltenders
Petr Mrazek
Acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs in the offseason, Mrazek has been just what the Blackhawks needed this season: an awful goaltender.
He’s helping the tank with a disastrous 4.37 GAA, and .873 save percentage and has allowed seven goals in two of his last three starts. Overall, Mrazek has given up 26 goals in his last five starts.
Marc-Andre Fleury
Fleury is still a decent goaltender at 38 years old. The 2003 first-overall pick is coming off of a 20-save performance in a 2-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers on December 12.
Before that, however, he allowed 23 goals in his last six games.
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Minnesota Wild Betting Prediction
There’s really no value in betting on the Wild on the moneyline, and even the -1.5 puckline isn’t all that attractive, nor can we be confident in picking the Blackhawks to upset the Wild.
With that in mind, it’s worth looking at the goaltenders. In their last five starts, Fleury and Mrazek have given up a combined 45 goals. That’s nine goals per game. Take the over and run.
NHL Pick: Over 6 (-107)
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