Minnesota Wild vs. Calgary Flames Prediction, Preview, and Odds
The Minnesota Wild are traveling to the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta to face the Calgary Flames. Minnesota is 8-10-4 this season and sits 12th in the Western Conference. Calgary is 10th in the Western Conference with a record of 10-11-3. Last season Calgary won two of their three games against the Wild. The puck drop is scheduled for 9:00 p.m. EST.
Wild Finding Wins
The Minnesota Wild are traveling after their win at home on Sunday to the Chicago Blackhawks with a final score of 4-1. This would be their third win in a row, with their last three games all covering a -1.5 spread. Minnesota is continuing to increase their scoring production this season with a goals per game average of 3.14. Although they are doing well to continue scoring, they are still the 27th team in the NHL when it comes to goals against per game at 3.55. This has gotten better in these last three games as they have only average one goal against per game in all three games.
Filip Gustavsson has been playing better in net for the Wild as he has a save percentage on the season of .892 and a goals against average of 3.46. In his last three games Gustavsson has a record of 2-1-0 with a save percentage of 1.68 and a save percentage of .932. This is the reason why we have been seeing him more in net lately oppose to Marc-Andre Fleury.
Calgary's Divisional Struggle
The Calgary Flames are coming off a loss at home to the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday with a final score of 3-4. Despite their loss to the Canucks, Calgary still has a winning record versus the Pacific Division of 4-2-0. However, the Flames are 4-4-0 against the Central Division and that shows in their stats on the year. Calgary is 21st in goals per game this season with a goals per game average of 2.96. Their goals against numbers aren't much better with a goals against per game average of 3.29, placing them 19th overall.
Calgary is looking slightly banged up with them having Elias Lindholm day-to-day with an illness as well as Jacob Markstrom day-to-day with a hand injury. If we do not see Markstrom in net we will likely see Dan Vladar who has been average at best this season. Vladar is posting a record of 4-2-1 with a save percentage of .883 and a goals against average of 3.20.
Best Bets
Full-Game Side Bet
Rating:
If the Calgary Flames are going to be without Elias Lindholm and Jacob Markstrom, I do not think they win this game. Elias Lindholm has 17 points so far this season and if he does not play, Calgary will be without a huge offensive playmaker. The same goes with Jacob Markstrom who has been carrying most of the workload in net all season. Minnesota also has momentum on their side after winning three games in a row and I can see them carrying that into this game.
I am siding with the Minnesota Wild on the money line.
Prediction: Minnesota Wild ML ( -108 )
Full-Game Total Pick
Rating:
I believe this will end up being one-sided much like Minnesota's previous games which have gone under 6.5 four times in their last five games. While the Flames games have been going over a lot recently, I think Filip Gustavsson in the net will continue playing strong and be able to stop the Calgary offense. Calgary also has one of the top 10 penalty kills in the NHL and should help against a Wild team with a power-play percentage of 18.3%.
I am taking the under at 6.5.
Prediction: Under 6.5 ( -132 )
Growing up in Pittsburgh, Anthony has always been surrounded by sports. Whether its watching the Penguins win the cup or the Steelers winning another ring, he saw what it took to win it all. He enjoys breaking down stats and applying them to spreadsheets to better his picks. With the combination of watching trends and his spreadsheets, Anthony has been very successful as a sports bettor. His last name is the German word for people and it is clear that he is the people's choice when it comes to handicapping.
