Canucks vs Wild Prediction

pickdawgz.com

16 December 2023

The Vancouver Canucks will play the Minnesota Wild on Saturday afternoon at the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Vancouver comes into this game on a four game winning streak, while Minnesota has split their last four games. Let’s take a look at the betting matchup and the Canucks vs Wild prediction.

Canucks Preview

The Vancouver Canucks are 20-9-1 this season after they defeated Florida by a score of 4-0 in their last game. Vancouver scored twice in the first period and twice in the second period for the shutout win. The Canucks were out shot by a total of 36-18 and went 1-3 on the power play in the game. Vancouver has also defeated Tampa Bay, Carolina, and Minnesota during this winning streak. The Canucks are scoring 3.83 goals per game and they are allowing 2.47 goals against per game, while going 26.7% on the power play and 76.6% on the penalty kill. J.T. Miller has led Vancouver with 15 goals, 28 assists, and 70 shots on goal. The projected starting goalie for Vancouver is Thatcher Demko, who is 15-7-0 this season with a 2.31 goals against average and a .923 save percentage.

Wild Preview

The Minnesota Wild are 11-12-4 this year after they defeated Calgary in a shootout by a score of 3-2 in their last game. Minnesota trailed 2-1 in the third period, but they were able to force overtime and get the win in a shootout. The Wild were out shot by a total of 37-32 and went 0-3 on the power play in the game. Minnesota defeated Seattle by a score of 3-0 in the game prior to Calgary, but they lost to Edmonton and Vancouver before that. The Wild are scoring 3.04 goals per game and they are allowing 3.26 goals against per game, while going 17.2% on the power play and 71.6% on the penalty kill. Mats Zuccarello has led Minnesota with six goals, 22 assists, and 74 shots on goal. The projected starting goalie for Minnesota is Filip Gustavsson, who is 7-7-2 this season with a 2.97 goals against average and a .903 save percentage.

Minnesota Wild Team Facts

The Wild have won each of their last six day games at Xcel Energy Center after coming off overtime.
The Wild have failed to cover the puck line in eight of their last nine games at Xcel Energy Center against opponents on a winning streak.
The 'Over 1.5 Goals Period 3' market has hit in each of the Wild's last eight day games against opponents on a winning streak.
The Wild have won the first period in each of their last four games as favorites.

Vancouver Canucks Team Facts

The Canucks have won four of their last five games as underdogs against opponents on a winning streak.
The Canucks have covered the puck line in each of their last nine games against opponents on a winning streak.
The Canucks have won the third period in five of their last six games at Xcel Energy Center following a win.
The 'Over 1.5 Goals Period 1' market has hit in eight of the Canucks' last nine games following a home win.

Minnesota Wild Player Prop Facts

Kirill Kaprizov has scored at least one goal in seven of his last eight appearances in day games at Xcel Energy Center.
Mats Zuccarello has recorded at least one point in each of the Wild's last six games as favorites against the Canucks.
Marcus Johansson has recorded at least one assist in each of the Wild's last five games against Pacific Division opponents at Xcel Energy Center.
Mats Zuccarello ranks T1st in the Central Division for shootout goals (2) this season.

Vancouver Canucks Player Prop Facts

Sam Lafferty has scored a goal in three of the Canucks' last four games as underdogs.
Elias Pettersson has recorded at least one point in each of the Canucks' last 14 Saturday games.
Filip Hronek has recorded at least one assist in each of the Canucks' last seven Saturday games.
J.T. Miller ranks 1st in the league for multi-assist games (10) this season.

Matchup/League Facts

The Minnesota Wild are one of only three teams to win a game when trailing by 2 or more goals after Period 1 this season.
The Minnesota Wild ranks 5th in the league for Period 2 goals allowed per game this season (0.74).
The Vancouver Canucks are one of only two teams in the league to rank top 5 for both goals for and goals against per game this season.
The Vancouver Canucks are one of three teams to rank in the top 10 for both goals scored and goals conceded per game this season.

Canucks vs Wild Betting Prediction

Vancouver comes into this game on a four game winning streak, but they play their best hockey at home. The Canucks are 20-9-1 on the season, but they are only 8-6 on the road. Minnesota has won two games in a row and they have played pretty well on the defensive end of the ice recently, allowing a total of 10 goals in their last five games. The Wild are 6-4-2 on home ice and I think they get revenge on the Canucks here. Vancouver defeated Minnesota on 12/7 by a score of 2-0 in Vancouver, but give me the Wild here.