Wild vs Red Wings NHL Spread/Handicapping
Headline: Rivalry Night Features Surging Western Conference Teams – Wings Host Wild
The Northwest leading Minnesota Wild continue their road trip on Wednesday night with a date in Hockeytown to face a Red Wings team that seems to be coming into its own after the mid-way point of the season.
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Minnesota Wild (16-10-1-1) at Detroit Red Wings (14-10-3-2)
When: 7:30 PM ET, Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Where: Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan
Broadcast: TSN2, NBCSN
Wild vs. Wings Betting Lines from DSI
Minnesota Wild +1½ -265 +121 Ov 5 -110
Detroit Red Wings -1½ +225 -133 Un 5 +100
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The Wild put a tidy three game win streak on the line while the Wings try for a third straight – both teams will look to build off wins in Vancouver in their last outings. Of note – the Wild have not won in Detroit in regulation in the last seven seasons!
The Minnesota Wild look as though they have figured some things out as of late. An anemic offense at the beginning of the season has really started to catch fire.
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The team that averaged just about two goals per game for the first part of the season has come on and has averaged just over three goals in their last 12 – hence the turnaround.
Matt Cullen has a goal and five assists during a five-game points streak for the Wild, Devin Setoguchi has four goals and two assists during a four-game streak and Pierre-Marc Bouchard has a goal and four assists during a three-game points streak. Zach Parise has six points in five games and Dany Heatley has woken up and has registered three points in two games. Minnesota is clicking on all cylinders – all four lines are contributing making for a dangerous team.
The Wild have been OK defensively this year allowing 2.43 goals per game. Nick Backstrom stopped 35 shots in a win Monday and looked very good in the process. He is 2-0-0 in his last two starts with a 2.50 GAA and .926 save % age. Backstrom has posted a 2.14 goals-against average in his last six starts but is 1-4-2 with a 3.17 GAA in eight career starts against Detroit. He should get the start Wednesday.[ad-4437448]
The Detroit Red Wings took a while to adjust to life without Nik Lidstrom and Thomas Holmstrom but now that they have, the Wings look like a contender once again. The offense is clicking and like the Wild, the Wings are looking dangerous up and down the lineup.
Besides Pavel Datsyuk, who has five points in two meetings versus the Wild this season, there are other Wings contributing in the offensive zone presently. Johan Franzen and Nik Kronwall each have three points in their last two games and Valtteri Filppula returned from injury three games ago and has recorded three points. Any team with Datsyuk in the lineup will be dangerous – he is simply magic and a difference maker all by himself.
The Wings have been getting solid goaltending after they rewarded Jimmy Howard with a contract extension. He is 4-0-2 in his last six games with a very good 1.29 GAA and .956 save % age. Howard has given up two or less goals in eight of his last nine starts and is 5-0-2 with a 1.98 GAA in seven at home against Minnesota..
Betting Prediction
A few trends to consider:
• Under is 6-1-2 in MIN last 9 Wed. games.
• Under is 8-3-1 in MIN last 12 road games.
• MIN are 11-29 in their last 40 road games.
• Over is 11-3-2 in DET last 16 Wed. games.
• Under is 7-2-1 in DET last 10 overall.
• Under is 15-5-2 in DET last 22 home games.
• MIN are 5-16-1 in the last 22 meetings in Detroit.
• MIN are 11-30-3 in the last 44 meetings.
The Wings will be without one of their top D-men on Wednesday night. Kyle Quincey was placed on IR with a fractured cheekbone and they may be without Justin Abdelkader as well. Those are big omissions for the Wings going up against a scorching Minnesota team. The Wild are playing very well in both ends of the rink presently as evidenced by their rise to the top of the Northwest Division. I love the Wild to continue their hot play Wednesday and for them to stretch their lead in the Northwest.
Pick: Minnesota Wild +121
