Pittsburgh Penguins vs Minnesota Wild Prediction, Pick and Preview, March 31 (3/31): NHL

Credit: photo by Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

 

Odds

Time	8:00 p.m. EST
Penguins money line	+100
Penguins spread	+1.5 (-225)
Wild  money line	-120
Wild spread	-1.5 (+185)
Over / under	6.5

 

2021-2022 season stats

	Pittsburgh Penguins	Minnesota Wild
Record	40-18-10	41-20-4
Road / home record	21-8-5	24-7-1
Streak	L1	W7
Goals per game	3.29	3.63
Goals allowed per game	2.59	3.06
Shots per game	34.4	32.8
Shots allowed per game	30.4	31.8
PP %	22.2%	20.50%
PK %	14.20%	23.81%
Over / under record	33-32-3	37-26-2

 

Preview

The Pittsburgh Penguins hit the road and will visit the Minnesota Wild on Thursday night. This is the second time these teams face off this season, the Wild won the last game 5-4 at Pittsburgh.

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS 

The Pneguins have lost 3 of their last 5 games and are 21-8-5 on the road with a 40-18-10 overall ranking third in the Metropolitan division. Pittsburgh ranks ninth in the NHL averaging 5.8 assists per game, led by Sidney Crosby with 0.8.

Crosby leads the Penguins with 70 points, scoring 25 goals and adding 45 assists. Bryan Rust has 10 points over the last 10 games for Pittsburgh.

In their last 10 games the Penguins are 6-4, averaging 3.8 goals, 6.7 assists, 3.1 penalties and 6.4 penalty minutes while giving up 2.4 goals per game with a .922 save percentage.

MINNESOTA WILD

The Wild have also won 7 games in a row and are 24-8 at home this season with a 41-20-4 record overall ranking 2nd in the Central Division. Minnesota is second in the Western Conference recording 9.8 points per game, averaging 3.6 goals and 6.1 assists.

Kaprizov has 82 total points for the Wild, 37 goals and 45 assists. Mats Zuccarello has two goals and eight assists over the last 10 games for Minnesota.

In their last 10 games the Wild are 8-2, averaging 3.2 goals, 5.3 assists, 4.4 penalties and 10.7 penalty minutes while giving up 2.1 goals per game with a .927 save percentage.

BETTING TRENDS

Pittsburgh are 1-4 ATS last 5 games on the road.

Pittsburgh are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games against Minnesota.

Minnesota are 7-0 SU in their last 7 games.

The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Minnesota's last 6 games at home.

Prediction

This should be a very close game as both teams have been great so far this season. They play great defense but also have some of the best offenses in the league. In the last 3 head to head games they've averaged 10 goals per game. So expect another great battle and even with the Wild hot streak I think the Penguins can pull out the win but I'm gonna play the over instead. The total has gone OVER in 8 of Minnesota's last 12 games against Pittsburgh.

PICK: Over 6.5 (-120) 

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