The Vegas Golden Knights and Minnesota Wild will finish off a two-game set in Minneapolis on Wednesday after the Wild took the first game by a score of 2-0 on Monday.
The Knights were riding a six-game winning streak before getting blanked, but still maintain a four-point lead in the West Division over the third-place Wild.
Oddsmakers have the sides as a coin-flip with the total opening at 5.5 and trending to the Under. Here are our free picks and predictions for Vegas Golden Knights vs. Minnesota Wild for Wednesday, March 10 (7:00 p.m. ET).
Vegas Golden Knights at Minnesota Wild betting preview
Injuries
Golden Knights: Alex Pietrangelo D (Questionable), Mark Stone F (Questionable), Robin Lehner G (Out), Brayden McNabb D (Out).
Wild: Ryan Hartman F (Questionable), Marcus Johansson F (Out).
Find our latest NHL injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Under is 13-3-1 in the Golden Knights’ last 17 matchups against a team with a winning record. Find more NHL betting trends for Golden Knights vs. Wild.
NHL sharp money and line movement report
By Patrick EversonTwinSpires opened Vegas a very slim -112 favorite, and the moneyline is now a -110 pick 'em. Ticket count is 2/1 and money 3/1 on the Golden Knights, but the Wild have seen some sharp play. The total hasn't moved off of 5.5 (Under -120), with 55 percent of bets/62 percent of cash on the Under.
Check out the full line movement for this gameMoneyline pick
The Wild will look to carry Monday’s 2-0 victory into Wednesday, after Minnesota thoroughly outplayed the first-place Knights and held them to under one expected goal on Monday. The Wild were outshot 26-21 but held the Knights to just two quality chances.
The play of goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen has been a huge reason why the Wild have won eight of their last 11 games. The young netminder has a perfect 7-0 SU record over his last seven starts and has allowed two or fewer goals in six of them. Even though Kahkonen is a rookie, he’s the real deal.
The Wild offense has used plenty of first-period scoring success to jump out to early leads. No team has scored more first-frame markers than the Wild this year. The early scoring and defensive play have given Minnesota a 10-1 SU record when leading after the first period.
The loss of forward Mark Stone proved to be a big deal for the Vegas offense on Monday. Stone leads the team in scoring this year (6G, 21A) and is questionable ahead of Wednesday’s game. The Knights could also be missing some other big names in the lineup, with defensemen Brayden McNabb and Alex Pietrangelo questionable after missing Monday’s loss. Pietrangelo leads the Knights in ice time and is dealing with a hand injury.
The Knights have dropped back-to-back games just once all year but with injuries, facing a hot goalie off a shutout and being in the middle of a nine-day, six-game road trip, Wednesday’s spot is a great place to fade the first-place team.
PREDICTION: Minnesota ML (-110)
Over/Under pick
Not many would think of the Minnesota Wild as an offensive team, but over the last four weeks, only two other teams are scoring more than their 3.42 goal per game. The problem for the Wild — and a big reason they aren't favored — is Vegas is one of the stingiest teams in the league when it comes to allowing goals. On the season, the Knights have the second-lowest goals against at 2.09.
Over the last three weeks, both clubs are sporting Top-10 penalty-kill units and are a combined 50-for-58 over that stretch. This could spell trouble for the power-plays that have struggled all year. The Knights are 4-for-29 on the PP since Valentine’s Day and possibly without Pietrangelo spells more trouble.
The Wild have been the worst team in the league with the man advantage all season long and are a paltry 5-for-74 on the PP this season. If Minnesota is going to do some scoring, it will likely be at even strength, which may not be easy with the Knights holding teams to under 2.00 even-strength goals per game this year.
Finally, this game could feature two goalies that sit in the Top-5 in goals saved above average and high-danger goals saved above average. Kahkonen and Marc-Andre Fleury (Monday’s starters) both boast GAA’s under 2.20 and are both in great form. Scoring won’t come easy on Wednesday. We love this Under.
PREDICTION: Under 5.5 (-120)
Golden Knights vs Wild betting card
- Minnesota ML (-110)
- Under 5.5 (-120)
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