The Minnesota Wild will play the St. Louis Blues on Saturday night at the Enterprise Center in Saint Louis, Missouri. Let’s take a look at the Wild preview, Blues preview, betting matchup, and the Wild vs Blues prediction.
Wild Preview
The Minnesota Wild are 28-26-6 this year after they lost to Nashville by a score of 6-1 in their last game. Minnesota led 1-0 early in the first, but they allowed the last six goals in the game for the loss. The Wild out shot Nashville by a total of 34-31 and went 0-3 on the power play in the game. Minnesota lost to Carolina by a score of 3-2 in the game prior to Nashville, but did beat Seattle and Edmonton before that. The Wild are scoring 3.10 goals per game and they are allowing 3.33 goals against per game, while going 21.9% on the power play and 74.4% on the penalty kill. Kirill Kaprizov has led Minnesota with 26 goals, 37 assists, and 187 shots on goal. The projected starting goalie for Minnesota is Filip Gustavsson, who is 16-15-3 this season with a 3.31 goals against average and a .893 save percentage.
Blues Preview
The St. Louis Blues are 30-26-3 this season after they lost to Edmonton win overtime by a score of 3-2 in their last game. St. Louis led 2-0 in the first five minutes of the game, but couldn’t find any more offense and lost in overtime. The Blues were out shot by a total of 36-34 and went 1-3 on the power play in the game. St. Louis has lost five of their last six games, with the lone win coming against the Islanders at home. The Blues are scoring 2.86 goals per game and they are allowing 3.12 goals against per game, while going 17.7% on the power play and 79.1% on the penalty kill. Robert Thomas has led St. Louis with 20 goals, 48 assists, and 121 shots on goal. The projected starting goalie for St. Louis is Jordan Binnington, who is 20-16-3 this year with a 2.93 goals against average and a .909 save percentage.
St. Louis Blues Team Facts
- The Blues have lost each of their last five night games at Enterprise Center after coming off overtime.
- The Blues have covered the puck line in 10 of their last 11 night games against Western Conference opponents.
- The Blues have lost the third period in seven of their last eight night games at Enterprise Center after coming off overtime.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in 15 of the Blues’ last 16 games against Central Division opponents.
Minnesota Wild Team Facts
- The Wild have lost eight of their last 10 games against Central Division opponents.
- The Wild have covered the puck line in each of their last seven night games following a road loss.
- The Wild have won the first period in five of their last six games as favorites following a road loss.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1’ market has hit in 12 of the Wild’s last 13 games as favorites against the Blues.
Wild vs Blues Betting Prediction
St. Louis comes into this matchup struggling and they are looking for their second win in their last seven. The Blues went 0-3 in their last road trip, but they return home for this game, where they are 17-11-1 this season. Minnesota is 14-14-2 on the road, but they have won two of their last three games away from home. The Wild are the better offensive team, as St. Louis has scored two goals or fewer in five of their last six games. Despite the offensive struggles that St. Louis is going through, I like how they play at home and I think they pick up the win here.