Wild Looking for Home Win Over Canucks
NHL betting online is really going to start heating up now that the schedule is filling out every night. The Minnesota Wild host the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night in a battle of teams from the Western Conference.
Vancouver comes into this game with a record of 0-3-1 and was able to get a point in their most recent matchup of the year. The Canucks have yet to play a home game in 2022-23, and the schedule doesn’t get any easier from here.
Minnesota has been a major disappointment to begin the year, as they are 0-3. The Wild was supposed to be a playoff contender this season, but they just haven’t been able to get anything going.
The NHL odds for this game have the Minnesota Wild as the moneyline betting favorites at -170 over the Vancouver Canucks.
Let’s check the latest NHL odds, stats, injury reports, and NHL lines for Canucks vs Wild We’ve plenty of NHL betting odds for you to consider.
Canucks Struggling on Special Teams
If the Vancouver Canucks are going to find a way to get the season going, then they have to be better on special teams. Vancouver has scored on the power play just 11 percent of the time, and they have allowed six power-play goals against them.
Goaltender Thatcher Demko has started three games for the Canucks, but he is allowing 4.48 goals per game. Vancouver might choose to go with Spencer Martin on Thursday in an effort to jumpstart the team.
Elias Pettersson has done all he can for his team on offense as he leads the way with six total points to begin the year. Vancouver can score, but they have to be better on special teams.
Wild Giving Up Too Many Goals
Minnesota has been an absolute mess on the defensive end of the ice this season, as they are allowing 6.67 goals per game. After another poor performance against the Colorado Avalanche, Wild head coach Dean Evason said, “It’s on the goalie. It’s on the defense. It’s on the forwards. It’s on the coaches. It’s on all of us.”
Minnesota has killed off just 70 percent of penalties this season, but they have also struggled in 5-on-5 action. The Wild have scored six power-play goals through three games, but the offense can’t make up for the lack of defense.
Kirill Kaprizov has scored three goals and dished out two assists, but Minnesota won’t win games until they figure out that defense.
Canucks vs Wild Game Injuries
Canucks vs Wild Head-to-Head
The Vancouver Canucks have a slight edge in the overall head-to-head matchup with the Wild as they lead 53-50-5. Minnesota has been the better team of late, as the Wild went 3-0 against the Canucks a season ago.
Canucks vs Wild Game Information
- Game: Canucks (0-3-1) vs Wild (0-3-0)
- Location: XCel Energy Center
- Day/Time: Thursday, October 20th, 8:05 p.m. ET
- Canucks vs Wild Live stream: NHL.TV
Canucks vs Wild Betting Lines
Canucks vs Wild Prediction
Both of these teams have really struggled to begin the year, and it should set up for a great battle on Thursday night. Scoring goals hasn’t been a problem for either the Canucks or the Wild, but getting stops has been a challenge.
Vancouver remains on the road to begin the year, and that has to be wearing for the Canucks and every player on the roster. However, things set up pretty nicely for the Wild in this game, and they will use every advantage to help them get their first win of the NHL season.
Head to BetUS Sportsbook and take the Minnesota Wild -170 over the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night.