Wild vs Blackhawks Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NHL Game

Todd Cordell - Betting Analyst at Covers.com
Todd Cordell • Betting Analyst 12+ years betting experience
Updated: Mar 17, 2026 , 12:02 PM ET • 3 min read

Connor Bedard has been staying aggressive and generating plenty of shots, and against one of the league’s weakest shot-suppression teams, he’s in a prime spot to keep it rolling.

NHL

Match starts: 6 hrs
MIN
63 %
CHI
37 %
EXPERT PICK - PROP
Connor Bedard o3.5  Shots On Goal (-105) Connor Bedard o3.5 Shots On Goal (-105)
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Connor Bedard Chicago Blackhawks NHL
Photo By - Reuters Connect. Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard (98) skates against the Dallas Stars.

Connor Bedard has taken a massive leap forward this season, already surpassing his previous high in goals while generating shots at the most efficient rate of his career.

Bedard’s gaudy shot volume was on full display in previous meetings with Minnesota, and my Wild vs. Blackhawks predictions are expecting another active shooting performance this time aorund.

Let’s take a closer look at my NHL picks for Tuesday, March 17.

Wild vs Blackhawks prediction

Wild vs Blackhawks best bet: Connor Bedard Over 3.5 shots (-105)

The Minnesota Wild are quietly one of the worst shot suppression teams in the NHL, ranking 30th in shots allowed. They have also allowed the 6th most shots to centers.

Connor Bedard has feasted against Bottom-12 shot suppression teams, even more so on home soil.

Bedard is averaging 4.4 shots per game through 14 such matchups. He recorded 4+ shots in 10 of them, and landed on three in a couple of the Unders.

He has faced the Wild twice this season, combining for 11 shots on goal and 19 shot attempts. The volume should remain strong tonight.

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Wild vs Blackhawks same-game parlay

The Chicago Blackhawks shipped out some veterans leading up to the deadline, resulting in more minutes for Sam Rinzel. He has taken advantage of the increased usage, recording multiple shots in 10 of his last 11.

The Wild rank 30th defending his primary shooting zone over the last 10 games so he’s in a great spot to continue firing.

Joel Eriksson Ek has recorded six points over his last four against Chicago, hitting the scoresheet in each. They rank 23rd in goals allowed and offer a good matchup to end his three-game point drought.

Wild vs Blackhawks SGP

  • Connor Bedard Over 3.5 shots
  • Sam Rinzel Over 1.5 shots
  • Joel Eriksson Ek Over 0.5 points

Wild vs Blackhawks odds

  • Moneyline: Minnesota -175 | Chicago +150
  • Puck Line: Minnesota -1.5 (+135) | Chicago +1.5 (-155)
  • Over/Under: Over 6.5 (+115) | Under 6.5 (-135)

Wild vs Blackhawks trend

Connor Bedard has averaged 4.2 shots on goal per game at home against Bottom-10 shot suppression teams. Find more NHL betting trends for Wild vs. Blackhawks.

How to watch Wild vs Blackhawks

Location United Center, Chicago, IL
Date Tuesday, March 17, 2026
Puck drop 7:30 p.m. ET
TV TNT, HBO Max

Wild vs Blackhawks latest injuries

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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Todd Cordell - Covers
Betting Analyst

Todd Cordell is a data-driven betting analyst. He uses numbers to help identify value across a wide variety of sports, with NHL being his specialty. Shot props, in particular, have proven to be a very fruitful market. Todd has served as a betting analyst in the public sphere for many years, most recently with theScore covering the NHL and MLB.

When not writing about sports betting, Todd stays busy analyzing the New Jersey Devils with a fine-tooth comb for InfernalAccess, his Devils-centric blog. Todd attended Sheridan College and graduated in 2014 with a diploma in print journalism.

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