Minnesota Wild vs
Vancouver CanucksPredictions & Preview

Vancouver Canucks Favored to Win Decisive Matchup Against Minnesota Wild in Western Conference Showdown

The upcoming Western Conference showdown between the Minnesota Wild and the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, BC, is set to determine the winner of their three-game regular-season series. The Wild previously won 3-2 in overtime at home in December, while the Canucks secured a 3-1 victory at Rogers Arena in March. Vancouver opens as the betting favorite at -109, with the current line favoring Minnesota at -119. For more information on this matchup and other NHL picks for Saturday, be sure to read on.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Wild -119 | Canucks +104
• Spread: Wild -1.5 (+215) | Canucks +1.5 (-255)
• Total: Over/Under 5.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Vancouver will win straight-up is 51%.

Minnesota vs Vancouver Stats

Minnesota Wild

The Minnesota Wild played against the Calgary Flames on Friday night, aiming to secure a playoff spot. The Wild were tied with the St. Louis Blues for the top wild card spot in the Western Conference, with a five-point lead over the Flames. Minnesota was seeking their third consecutive victory after winning their previous two games in overtime. Kirill Kaprizov made a successful return from injury, scoring two goals and an assist. Joel Eriksson Ek also had a standout performance with four goals in his first game since February. Despite Marc-Andre Fleury giving up seven goals in the last game, the Wild have a record of 43-29-7 this season. In terms of power ranking, Minnesota is ranked 30th and is 26th in offense, scoring an average of 2.78 goals per game, while ranking 15th in defense, allowing an average of 2.92 goals against per game.

Vancouver Canucks Analysis

The Vancouver Canucks have been eliminated from playoff contention but have shown strong performances by winning three of their last four games. This includes an impressive comeback where they became the first team in NHL history to overcome a three-goal deficit in the final minute of the third period. Goalie Kevin Lankinen has been a standout player with 31 saves in their recent win over the Colorado Avalanche. Despite their recent success, the Canucks have a power ranking of 24 and are ranked 20th in offense and 19th in defense. They currently have a record of 37-29-13 overall. In their last three matchups against the Minnesota Wild, the Canucks went 1-1-1.

Injuries and Uncertainties Abound for Canucks, but Favored to Defeat Wild at Home

The Vancouver Canucks are currently without key centers Elias Pettersson and Filip Chytil, while defenseman Jacob Middleton's status for the upcoming game is uncertain. Goaltender Filip Gustavsson has been confirmed for Friday's match against Calgary, leaving Marc-Andre Fleury to defend the net against the Canucks on Saturday. Despite Fleury's recent struggles, allowing 22 goals in his last five starts, he will be tasked with stopping Vancouver's offense. The Canucks, while not in playoff contention, may have an advantage in this matchup as they face a potentially fatigued Minnesota Wild team playing on the second night of a back-to-back after a challenging road game against Calgary. Considering these factors, the Canucks are favored to come out ahead in front of their home crowd.

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