Wild vs Blackhawks Game Preview, Odds, Live Stream, Picks & Predictions
Streaking Minnesota Vying for Sixth Win in Row
Two teams trending differently meet as the streaking Minnesota Wild visit the sinking Chicago Blackhawks. The NHL betting odds are being kind to the Blackhawks here. The BetUS online sportsbook has set up Chicago as a moderate underdog, though given the latest stats, news and injury reports, Chicago could get run out of its own building.
Minnesota Wild vs Chicago Blackhawks
Blackhawks Down
With just one win in their last seven games, the Chicago Blackhawks are shooting down the standings again. Marc-Andre Fleury, who accounted for about half of Chicago’s wins, has slowed down. The reigning Vezina Trophy winner is just 1-4-0 with a .870 save percentage (SV%) in his last five starts.
Chicago has been playing all right in this stretch but that won’t cut it given how this team is constantly getting outshot and outchanced. The special teams for the Blackhawks are also trending below average and they rank in the bottom quarter of the league in both high-danger shooting percentage and save percentage.
That combo is why the Blackhawks have a -25 goal differential on 5v5 play. Their odds of winning usually hinge on how well Fleury can stand on his head and the 37-year-old has begun showing his age.
Running Wild … Again
After a slump that extended over a month thanks to the hiatus, the Minnesota Wild are back to dominating. The team has won five straight and has just one loss in its last nine games — and it happened in a shootout against the Colorado Avalanche.
In this eight-game span, the Wild are averaging the second-most goals and allowing the third-fewest. More notably, their once-stagnant power play (PP) has come alive at 25.9 percent during that stretch. The Wild are already one of the NHL’s most prolific offenses despite a power play that is firing at just 18.8 percent overall.
#mnwild goalie Kaapo Kahkonen stops a season-high 40-of-43 shots – his second career game w/40-plus saves – to earn his sixth win in his last seven starts. He is 10-2-2 in 16 games (14 starts) this season, ranking second amongst NHL rookie goalies in wins.
— Minnesota Wild PR (@mnwildPR) January 31, 2022
Kaapo Kahkonen has also risen from purgatory and is 6-0-1 in his last seven starts for a .933 SV%. Cam Talbot’s absence was a boon for Minnesota as it now has a goaltender controversy. But that is great as other than the power play, goaltending has been kryptonite for this team. If Kahkonen or Talbot can play like an All-Star, the Wild are a true Stanley Cup threat.
Minnesota Wild vs Chicago Blackhawks Head to Head
| Minnesota | Stat | Chicago |
| 6-3-1 | Record | 4-3-3 |
| 5-4-1 | Over/Under | 5-4-1 |
| 3 | Average Score | 2.7 |
| 24.1% | Power Play % | 24.2% |
| 75.8% | Penalty Kill % | 75.9% |
Minnesota Wild vs Chicago Blackhawks Game Information
Date: Wednesday
Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
Location: United Center
Minnesota Wild vs Chicago Blackhawks Live Stream: NHL Live
Minnesota Wild vs Chicago Blackhawks Betting Lines
Minnesota Wild vs Chicago Blackhawks Prediction
Minnesota is just 13-9 on the road but has won four of its last five. As far as a moneyline bet, this team is over six units up and have won three straight games against Chicago. The Wild have also had Fleury’s number in recent seasons. Overall, “The Flower” has not bloomed against Minnesota and has a measly 7-14-0 and .891 SV% against them.
Maybe Fleury will buck this trend and channel his Vezina form. OK, the Blackhawks are still hard-pressed to meet the firepower that Minnesota brings. So whether this one becomes a goal-scoring exhibition or a low-scoring, grind-out affair, Minnesota has the edge.
Pick: Minnesota Wild -160
We lean on the former to happen here. Minnesota has scored at least three goals against Chicago in their last five meetings and the total has gone 3-1-1 in this span. The Wild are on fire but their penalty kill (77.8 percent in their last nine) is still vulnerable as is Fleury. Bet online on the over.
