The Chicago Blackhawks (14-34-2), eighth in the NHL standings for the Central Division, host the Minnesota Wild (21-23-5), seventh in the Central, in one of just three games on the NHL schedule Wednesday. Minnesota last played the Blackhawks on December 3, beating them 4-1. The Wild have lost two in a row and Chicago has lost four NHL games in a row.
Wild vs Blackhawks Picks
- Pick 1: Blackhawks +1.5 (-140)
- Pick 2: Over 5.5 (-111)
Filip Gustavsson (3.28 GAA, .896 save percentage) is expected to start in goal for the Wild and Petr Mrazek (2.92 GAA, .910 save percentage) is the projected starting goaltender for the Blackhawks. Let’s take a look at the NHL expert picks for the game along with the Wild vs Blackhawks odds.
Minnesota Wild vs Chicago Blackhawks Odds
Minnesota is the betting favorite with NHL odds of -210 for the moneyline and -1.5 (+120) for the puck line. For the Wild vs. Blackhawks odds, Chicago is a +175 moneyline underdog with +1.5 (-140) puck line odds. The over/under is 5.5 per BetUS.
Minnesota Wild vs Chicago Blackhawks Information
Minnesota Wild vs Chicago Blackhawks
Location of the game: United Center in Chicago, Illinois
Date & Time: Wednesday, February 7 at 9:30 p.m. ET
How to Watch: TNT and SN 360 (Canada)
Minnesota Wild vs Chicago Blackhawks Betting Preview
Defense and Goaltending Hurting Minnesota
The Wild weren’t among the NHL picks to win the Stanley Cup this season, but they were supposed to be better than this. The team is seven points out of a wild-card playoff spot and will likely be sellers at the deadline unless they can figure things out. Goaltending and defense, which has been a strength of past Wild teams, have been major issues this year. Minnesota is 25th among NHL teams in goals allowed (3.35) and 21st in shots allowed (30.6). They’ve allowed at least three goals in five of their last six games.
Minnesota comes into the game with a 9-12-2 record on the road and a 13-9 record against the spread (ATS) away from home. Their over-under record on the road is 14-6-2, which is especially noteworthy with the low 5.5 total for the Wild vs Blackhawks odds. Kirill Kaprizov leads all players on the Minnesota Wild lines with 45 points (19 goals, 26 assists) in 42 games.
The Minnesota Wild have several players on the NHL injury report, including Marcus Foligno, Jared Spurgeon (out for the year), Patrick Maroon, and Connor Dewar.
Blackhawks Playing out the Season
Chicago was going to be a fun team to watch this season simply because of Connor Bedard, but the 2023 first-overall pick is still sidelined with a jaw injury and is still at least a few more games away from returning. The Blackhawks, which are T31st in goals (2.08) and 31st in shots (26.4), have really struggled to score in his absence – they haven’t scored in their last two games and have just 10 goals in their last 10 games.
However, the Chicago Blackhawks game tonight should have more goals. The team has 18 goals in their last seven home games and an over-under record of 9-12-1 on home ice this season. They’re 13-9 ATS at the United Center.
Bedard, despite playing just 39 games, still leads the Blackhawks in NHL player stats with 33 points (15 goals, 18 assists). Connor Murphy, Nikita Zaitsev, Anthony Beauvillier, and Tyler Johnson are also on the NHL injury report for Chicago.
Minnesota Wild vs Chicago Blackhawks Betting Picks
The over, especially with a low total, is a good pick according to Wild vs Blackhawks odds. The Chicago Blackhawks play a lot better on home ice and should also cover the spread against a mediocre Wild team.
- Pick 1: Blackhawks +1.5 (-140)
- Pick 2: Over 5.5 (-110)
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