The Minnesota Wild will play the Nashville Predators on Thursday night at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. Let’s take a look at the Wild preview, Predators preview, betting matchup, and the Wild vs. Predators prediction.
Wild Preview
The Minnesota Wild are 28-25-6 this year and they have won two of their last three games. Minnesota is coming off of a home loss to Carolina by a score of 3-2 in their last game. Minnesota led 2-1 after the first period, but they allowed the last two goals in the game for the loss. The Wild out shot Carolina by a total of 30-28 and went 0-3 on the power play in the game. Minnesota defeated Seattle by a score of 5-2 and Edmonton by a score of 4-2 in the two games prior to Carolina. The Wild are scoring 3.14 goals per game and they are allowing 3.29 goals against per game, while going 22.2% on the power play and 74.6% on the penalty kill. Kirill Kaprizov has led Minnesota with 26 goals, 37 assists, and 183 shots on goal. The projected starting goalie for Minnesota is Filip Guastavsson, who is 16-14-3 this year with a 3.23 goals against average and a .896 save percentage.
Predators Preview
The Nashville Predators are 33-25-2 this season and they have won six games in a row. Nashville is coming off of a home win against Ottawa by a score of 4-1 in their last game. The Predators had their lead cut to 2-1 at the end of the first period, but they scored the last two goals in the game for the win. Nashville out shot Ottawa by a total of 36-25 and went 1-3 on the power play in the game. The Predators have also defeated Anaheim, San Jose, LA, Vegas, and St. Louis during this winning streak. The Preds are scoring 3.10 goals per game and they are allowing 3.13 goals against per game, while going 18.8% on the power play and 75.7% on the penalty kill. Filip Forsberg has led Nashville with 28 goals, 32 assists, and 239 shots on goal. The projected starting goalie for Nashville is Juuse Saros, who is 24-21-2 this year with a 2.91 goals against average and a .905 save percentage.
Nashville Predators Team Facts
- The Predators have lost each of their last four games as favorites following a home win.
- The Predators have failed to cover the puck line in 14 of their last 15 games as home favorites following a home win.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 3′ market has hit in each of the Predators’ last 10 games against Western Conference opponents.
- The Predators have lost the second period in four of their last five games as home favorites following a home win.
Minnesota Wild Team Facts
- The Wild have lost each of their last seven night games at Bridgestone Arena following a loss.
- The Wild have failed to cover the puck line in seven of their last eight night games following a home loss.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1’ market has hit in each of the Wild’s last five night games at Bridgestone Arena.
- The Wild have won the second period in each of their last four games against the Predators.
Nashville Predators Player Prop Facts
- Gustav Nyquist has scored the last goal in each of the Predators’ last three games.
- Gustav Nyquist has scored a goal in four of the Predators’ last five games.
- Tommy Novak has recorded at least one point in each of the Predators’ last 10 night games.
- Gustav Nyquist has recorded at least one assist in each of the Predators’ last seven games against Western Conference opponents at Bridgestone Arena.
- Gustav Nyquist ranks T3rd in the Central Division for shootout goals (2) this season.
Minnesota Wild Player Prop Facts
- Kirill Kaprizov has scored a goal in three of his last four appearances with the Wild as underdogs against Central Division opponents.
- Joel Eriksson Ek has recorded at least one point in 11 of the Wild’s last 12 games as underdogs.
- Kirill Kaprizov has recorded at least one assist in eight of the Wild’s last nine games.
- Mats Zuccarello ranks T1st in the Western Conference for shootout goals (3) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Nashville Predators rank T27th in the league for power play goals against this season (46).
- The Nashville Predators are one of only seven teams to win 3+ games when trailing after Period 2 this season.
- The Minnesota Wild rank 31st in the league for Period 3 goals allowed per game this season (1.42).
- The Minnesota Wild rank 3rd in the league for Period 3 goals scored per game this season (1.29).
Wild vs Predators Betting Prediction
Nashville comes into this game playing some of their best hockey of the season and they are looking for their sixth straight win. The Predators have allowed two goals or fewer in four straight games, but they are just 15-15-0 at home. Minnesota has won two of their last three games and they are 14-13-2 on the road. Both of these teams have had success in recent games, but Nashville is playing too well to pick against. Take the Preds at home.