After being shut out in the final two contests of an 0-3-1 SU homestand, the Minnesota Wild picked up a much-needed 4-1 road victory over the New York Rangers in their last time out. The Wild, who are 2-6-3 since the all-star break, travel to the Motor City tonight to do battle with the Detroit Red Wings. Sportsbooks opened the Wild as -105 road favorites with a total of 5.5.
Standout Stats
- Following an 11-game goal drought, Red Wings left-winger Andreas Athanasiou has potted five in his last five games. Athanasiou scored twice in the third period of Detroit’s 5-4 setback to the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday.
- Red Wings wingers Justin Abdelkader (flu) and Darren Helm (undisclosed) missed Thursday’s practice and are day to day.
- Despite their recent struggles, the Wild remain one point ahead of both Colorado and Chicago for the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference playoff race. In the 11 games since the all-star break, Minnesota has scored 22 goals. In February, Minnesota is surrendering 3.5 goals per game – the seventh-worst mark in the NHL.
- Due to the Wild’s low-scoring ways, they’ve been a solid UNDER bet lately. Minnesota has gone UNDER in each of its past three games with an average combined score of 4.3 goals. The Red Wings have been UNDER machines in their own barn, going UNDER in six of their previous eight home games with an average combined score of 5.5 goals.
- Minnesota is 0-4 SU in its last four at Little Sportsbook Arena with an average losing margin of 1.3 goals. In that span, the Wild have scored 10 goals while allowing 15.
My best bet for Wild-Red Wings
UNDER 5.5 goals
While OVERs have been the hot trend in the NHL lately, I’m predicting this one to stay UNDER the total for a few reasons. The Wild’s offense has been non-existent of late and the Red Wings aren’t exactly filling the scoresheet either. Detroit’s penchant for going UNDER in Michigan is especially noteworthy, so expect another low-scoring affair tonight.
The total has gone UNDER in the Wild’s last three games (avg. combined score: 4.33).away The Wild are 0-4 SU in their last four games on the road vs the Red Wings (avg. losing margin: 1.25). The total has gone UNDER in six of the Red Wings’ last eight games at home (avg. combined score: 5.5).home
