Utah Hockey Club vs Minnesota Wild Prediction, Odds, and Props

The Utah Hockey Club is heading to Saint Paul tonight to face the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center. With the Wild favored by just a bit at -150 on the moneyline and the over/under set at 6 goals, we think this matchup pits a solid Minnesota team against a Utah squad showing some signs of life after a tough stretch.

We’re ready to throw down some bets on this game and here’s how we see it unfolding. Get ready for our expert analysis and prediction.

Betting Odds and Game Analysis

The Minnesota Wild and their 28-15-4 record have been strong at home all season long and are entering this matchup after splitting their last 10 games. They’re 6-4 in that span but have shown some inconsistency that we haven’t seen from them earlier in the season. After a strong win against Colorado where they went 3-1, they stumbled in a heavy 6-2 loss to Nashville. Despite this, they’ve still managed to average 3.2 goals per game in their last 10 games which is slightly above their season average of 3 goals per game.

The Utah Hockey Club with their 20-19-7 record comes into this game with momentum. They’ve won 2 straight against Winnipeg and St. Louis. While their offense has undeniably stepped up lately, they’ve struggled quite a bit with consistency all season as shown by their 4-5-1 record in their last 10 games. 

On top of all of this, both teams are dealing with injuries, but what hurts the most is that Minnesota’s lineup is missing a critical piece in Kirill Kaprizov — he leads the team in points and goals. Fortunately for the Wild, Utah is also without their top scorer, Dylan Guenther, but they’ve seemed to adjust well in their last 2 games by filling the gap.

Special Teams Could Be the Decider

Minnesota’s power play has struggled all season. They rank 23rd in the league at just 19%. That’s not dismal, but it’s still not all that great.

Utah, meanwhile, has been much better with their PP unit, sitting at 13th with a 21.7% success rate.

This difference, though not massive, could be pivotal if Utah gets a few chances with the man advantage.

On the penalty kill, Utah does have a clear edge at 81.5% compared to Minnesota’s 71.6%. If the game turns into a special-teams battle, we can’t imagine Utah not capitalizing on the advantage.

Goaltending Comparison

Minnesota’s Filip Gustavsson has been a fairly reliable netminder this season as he’s posting a .914 save percentage and a 2.58 goals-against average. That puts him in the top 10 of goalies in the league.

Utah counters him with Karel Vejmelka, who has a comparable .910 save percentage and a slightly better 2.54 GAA.

While Gustavsson has the stronger record with his 18 wins compared to Vejmelka’s 10, the goaltending battle seems relatively even heading into this game. If these 2 take their creases for the night, we might see a relatively low-scoring matchup in St. Paul.

Recent Meetings

These teams have met twice so far this season. With the series tied 1-1, each team has had the chance to see the other and figure out what it takes to win.

The Wild won the first game in a shootout, while Utah took the second meeting with a tight 2-1 win. Although it’s been back and forth, we feel like we’re seeing a trend here.

Of course, both games were competitive, and there’s little to suggest this one will be any different. As close as these games were, this feels like it’ll be another close one, so we’re going to stay away from the puck line.

Prediction and Our Best Bet

The Wild’s home-ice advantage and overall depth give them the upper hand for tonight. However, the absence of Kirill Kaprizov could keep things closer than expected considering they haven’t fully adjusted to his absence. Utah’s recent form is encouraging, and their edge in special teams will undoubtedly make this a competitive matchup if players find themselves in the box.

That said, Minnesota’s depth and Gustavsson’s consistency in net give them the edge in a must-win home game. While Utah has shown flashes of brilliance, they’ve been inconsistent for the better part of the season, especially against playoff-caliber teams like the Wild.

• Best Bet: Minnesota Wild Moneyline (-150)
• HelloRookie’s Prediction: Minnesota 3, Utah 2

We’re also leaning toward the Under 6 goals (-115). Given the recent low-scoring trend between these teams and the solid play of both goaltenders, we don’t see too many lamps lighting up. If the teams play disciplined hockey and avoid PIM, we could see an even lower-scoring game somewhere around 2-1 as the final.

We expect a close game for this one. Minnesota should emerge with a win in regulation, solidifying their place near the top of the Central Division standings.

Player Props to Watch in Tonight’s Matchup

Despite this being a close game, there are still some solid opportunities to load up your bet slip with prop bets and these are the best ones for this game.

• Clayton Keller Over 0.5 Assists (+105). Clayton Keller has been a standout for Utah as he’s recorded at least 1 assist in each of their last 4 games. With Minnesota’s struggles on the PK, Keller’s playmaking ability on the PP unit could come into play. At plus money, we think this prop offers excellent value for a player in great form and playing a crucial role in his team’s recent success.
• Marco Rossi Over 0.5 Assists (+145). Marco Rossi has quietly been an assist machine for the Wild. He’s notched helpers in 5 of his last 6 games when the Wild are favored at home against Western Conference opponents like Utah. With Kirill Kaprizov out on the long-term IR, Rossi has stepped up as a playmaker to keep the team going. Against a Utah team that allows 3.1 goals per game, we think there’s a solid chance he will set up one of his linemates tonight.

These props are a little sneaky because the best players from each team are sidelined. The odds look great and we think there’s a decent chance of these bets hitting in this Central Division showdown.