Nashville Predators (11-19-7) vs. Minnesota Wild (22-11-4)
December 31, 2024 8:00 pm EDT
The Line: Minnesota Wild -160 / Nashville Predators +135; Over/Under: +6.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Nashville Predators and Minnesota Wild meet Tuesday in NHL action at the Xcel Energy Center. Here’s a Minnesota Wild vs Nashville Predators Prediction. This article will include a Minnesota Wild vs Nashville Predators Pick.
Nashville Predators Betting Preview
The Nashville Predators lost to the Blues and Jets, and they play the Canucks, Flames, and Jets next. The Nashville Predators are averaging 2.38 goals per game and are scoring 18.9 percent of their power play opportunities. Jonathan Marchessault leads Nashville with 13 goals, Filip Forsberg has 21 assists and Roman Josi has 96 shots on goal. Defensively, the Nashville Predators are allowing 3.16 goals per game and are killing 85.7 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Juuse Saros has allowed 82 goals on 843 shots faced, while Scott Wedgewood has given up 16 goals on 131 shots.
Minnesota Wild Betting Preview
The Minnesota Wild beat the Stars, lost to the Senators, and they play the Capitals, Hurricanes, and Blues next. The Minnesota Wild are averaging 2.89 goals per game and are scoring 17 percent of their power play opportunities. Kirill Kaprizov leads Minnesota with 23 goals, Marco Rossi has 17 assists and Matt Boldy has 122 shots on goal. Defensively, the Minnesota Wild are allowing 2.68 goals per game and are killing 70 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Filip Gustavsson has allowed 56 goals on 726 shots faced, and Marc-Andre Fleury has given up 29 goals on 283 shots.
Minnesota Wild vs Nashville Predators Injury Report
The Wild are without Jakub Lauko and Jake Middleton, while Kirill Kaprizov is listed as day-to-day. Cole Smith is on injured reserve for the Predators.
Why the Minnesota Wild will win
- The Predators have lost nine of their last 10 road games.
- The home team has won each of the Predators’ last four games.
- The home team has covered the puck line in each of the Predators’ last four games.
- The Predators have failed to cover the puck line in five of their last six road games.
- The Predators have lost the third period in each of their last four games against Western Conference opponents.
Minnesota Wild Player Prop Facts
- Kirill Kaprizov has scored at least one goal in five of his last six appearances with the Wild as favorites.
- Marco Rossi has recorded an assist in seven of the Wild’s last eight games as favorites against Western Conference opponents.
- Kirill Kaprizov has recorded at least one point in each of his last 13 appearances with the Wild as favorites.
Nashville Predators Player Prop Facts
- Roman Josi has recorded at least one point in each of the Predators’ last nine games as underdogs against the Wild.
- Ryan O’Reilly has scored at least one goal in each of his last seven Tuesday appearances against Central Division opponents.
- Roman Josi has recorded at least one assist in each of the Predators’ last eight games as underdogs against the Wild.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Minnesota Wild rank 30th in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (70.00%).
- The Minnesota Wild rank 6th in the league for goals against per game this season (2.68).
- The Nashville Predators rank 32nd in the league for goals per game this season (2.38).
- The Nashville Predators rank T1st in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (85.71%).
Minnesota Wild vs Nashville Predators Prediction
The Minnesota Wild are playing inconsistent hockey these last couple of weeks, but there’s no doubt they’re the better team in this spot. The Nashville Predators are not only a below-average team overall, but they’re 3-12-4 on the road. You simply can’t make a case at all for the Predators on the road. It’s really that simple. The Wild have had issues on their home ice, but it’s not nearly as bad as the Predators on the road. I can’t get behind the Predators on the road. You can make an argument this price should be steeper. Give me the Wild on their home ice.
