Central Division rivals meet on Wednesday night, as the Minnesota Wild visit the Chicago Blackhawks in a game that can be seen on NBCSN. Both teams have struggled at times this season, and if the playoffs started today they would each be out. Both teams will be playing with no rest, as the Wild hosted Calgary on Tuesday, while the Blackhawks were in Ottawa. The Blackhawks have dominated this series of late, winning five of the last six meetings.
This war on the ice will go down Wednesday, January 10, 2018, at 8 p.m. ET at the United Center. The game will be televised live on NBCSN.
We'll have NHL odds at BookMaker.eu available for this and every game on the NHL Wednesday schedule.
Odds Analysis
Chicago should be listed as a small home favorite in this contest, with the total listed at 5.5. Minnesota has not been that good on the road, going 8-14, with 13 games going over, seven going under, with two pushes. The Wild are scoring 2.9 goals per game and giving up 2.9 per contest. Minnesota has played better lately, as they started this week having won four of their last six games.
Chicago is normally a very good home team, but this season they haven’t been trustworthy. Chicago was just 10-8 in their first 18 home games, with eight games going over and ten going under. Chicago is scoring 3 goals per game and giving up 2.8 per contest.
The Blackhawks continue to struggle with injuries, as starting goaltender Corey Crawford is out. Chicago has gotten good play from Patrick Kane this season, but he has not gotten much help. Kane actually plays on the second line and his line has not been the problem. Chicago’s problem has been the top line of Jonathan Toews, Brandon Saad and whoever else plays with those two. Chicago has tried
Richard Panik, Alex DeBrincat, Patrick Sharp, Ryan Hartman and John Hayden on the top line and now they are going with Vinnie Hinostroza. "He's taken advantage of working hard and adding an element to our team, which is energy and speed and quickness," head coach Joel Quenneville said to the Daily Herald. "Getting up there on that top line, I commend him on how well he's done."
Special Teams
The Wild are 15th in the NHL on the power play at 19.5%. They are 9th in penalty killing at just under 83%. The Blackhawks continue to struggle on the power play, as they are just 29th in the league at 14.7% and they are 14th in penalty killing at just over 81%.
Key Stat
Chicago has won five of the last six meetings, including two of three this season. The Blackhawks lost 5-2 at home in October but they beat Minnesota 2-0 in Minneapolis in early November and 4-1 in Chicago in mid-December. It has actually been a bit of a road team series of late, as Minnesota has won four of the last six in Chicago.
Free NHL Picks
The key factor in this game is rest. Both teams will be playing with no rest, but Chicago has the added disadvantage, as they are playing their third game in four days. The Blackhawks have been really bad playing with no rest of late, losing six of their last seven. Minnesota has not been much better, as they are 4-6 in their last ten playing with no rest. The Wild have the advantage of a little more rest, as they are not in a 3-in-4 situation, while Chicago is, and I still like the goaltending situation for Minnesota better than for the Blackhawks who are without Crawford. I will take the plus price and go with the Wild in this game and also play the game to go over the total.
NHL Odds: Wild 4, Blackhawks 3
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