Free NHL Hockey Prediction: Blackhawks vs Wild NHL Odds
Looking for Chicago Blackhawks vs Minnesota Wild free hockey plays & NHL Odds? NHL betting sees the Blackhawks taking on the Wild on Tuesday February 21st at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NHL Hockey matchups all season long so stay tuned for more FREE daily NHL hockey predictions.
(36-18-5) Chicago Blackhawks vs. Minnesota Wild (39-13-6)
Date: Tuesday February 21st
Time: 5:00 PM
Venue: Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN
NHL Hockey Moneyline Odds: Wild -125
NHL Hockey Puck Line Odds:
NHL Betting Total: 5.5
Live NHL Odds
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Minnesota has continued their strong season well into February and currently hold a seven point lead over the next best Central Division team, who happen to be their opponent in this game, the Chicago Blackhawks.
The Blackhawks, who are always a threat to win the Stanley Cup, sit in the driver’s seat for a good playoff seed in the West entering the finally quarter of the season.
Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago grades out favorably in the major team categories, such as goals for and goals against where they sit 8th in each, respectively.
They should once again be an active participant in the trade market heading into the deadline next week.
Patrick Kane is at his point scoring ways yet again this year, after leading the league in 2015-16 and earning the Art Ross Trophy. As of the time of writing, Kane sits in a tie for 5th overall in points with his 60.
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Kane’s linemate, Artem Anisimov, leads the Hawks in goals this season with 21 (tied with Marian Hossa). Anisimov and Kane are joined by Artemi Panarin, and his 53 points, to form the top line. The three rank as the three top point getters for the Hawks.
Duncan Keith is yet again the leader on the blueline, averaging a team-high 25:54 TOI per game and registering 41 points in the process.
The duo of Corey Crawford and Scott Darling have provided a steady presence in net, regardless of who starts.
Darling has a .928 SV% and a 2.19 GAA in 24 games this season, and Crawford owns a .917 and 2.56, respectively.
Minnesota Wild
New Wild coach, Bruce Boudreau, is the current favorite for the Jack Adams trophy come awards time. The bench boss has led a Wild team, who have largely the same player personnel from a season ago, to a second place standing in the entire NHL.
The Wild finished with 87 total points last season and earned the final Western playoff seed. The team will tie their entire point total from a season ago with a win against Chicago here, but will still have 23 games remaining in the regular season.
Goaltending has been their strongest attribute, with Devan Dubnyk putting together a Vezina worthy season. Dubnyk leads the entire NHL in both Goals Against Average (1.97) and Save Percentage (.934). The team grades out second overall in goals against at 2.3.
The signing of Eric Staal has paid big dividends, as he ranks second on the team in points with 45 this year.
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Leading the way is Mikael Granlund, who seems to finally be realizing his potential under Boudreau.
There are five Wild players amongst the top eight in plus-minus this year, including the top-four.
Minnesota has the second best goal differential of any team in the NHL at plus-62, just seven back of Washington’s leading plus-69.
NHL Betting Trends:
- The Blackhawks rank 4th overall in goals per game at 3.3
- Chicago is 6-1 in February
- Chicago is 18-10-1 on the road this year
- Minnesota rank 2nd in goals against this season at a mark of 2.3
- Minnesota is 27-7-1 at home
- Minnesota is 7-2-1 in their last 10 games
Free Chicago Blackhawks vs Minnesota Wild NHL Hockey Prediction:
This is a heavyweight battle between two Central Division teams that rank amongst the best in hockey. The Blackhawks will look to prove that they’re still the class of the West against Dubnyk and the Wild.
4* Free NHL Betting Pick: Under 5.5
I think that each time will play a tight checking game, and despite the favorable rankings in firepower for both, I like a defensive/ goaltending battle to ensue.
NHL Free Score Prediction: Chicago 2 – Minnesota 3 (OT)
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