The Anaheim Ducks and the Minnesota Wild highlight this Saturday night’s betting action in the NHL with a key showdown between two of the top teams in the Western Conference. Game time from Xcel Energy Center is set for 9 p.m. (ET).
Anaheim at Minnesota Game Overview
With back-to-back 2-1 victories against Tampa Bay and Colorado at home this week, Anaheim has now won five of its last six games. The total stayed UNDER in both of these contests and it has stayed UNDER or ended as a PUSH in the last eight games. The Ducks hold a three-point lead over San Jose in the Pacific Division with 61 points on a record of 26-13-9. This includes a 10-8-6 record on the road.
Anaheim has been one of the top teams in the NHL in goals allowed (2.4) this season behind the solid play of John Gibson in goal. After allowing just five goals in his last five starts, his goals-against average stands at 2.26 on the year. He comes into this game with a .922 save percentage over 37 previous games between the pipes. The Ducks’ top point scorer at the other end of the ice has been center Ryan Kesler with 18 goals and 20 assists. The team, as a whole, is averaging 2.6 goals per game.
Minnesota bounced back from Tuesday’s stunning 4-3 loss to New Jersey as a heavy -219 home favorite with a tight 4-3 victory at home against lowly Arizona as a ridiculous -374 favorite on the closing money line. The Wild are now 15-5 at home this season as part of an overall record of 29-10-5. Their 63 points have them leading Chicago in the Central Division by two points. The total has gone OVER or ended as a PUSH in their last five games.
It is easy to see why the Wild have the most points in the Western Conference. They have an offensive attack that is scoring 3.3 goals per game complementing a defensive effort that is only giving up an average of 2.2 goals a game. Center Eric Staal has led the way in the scoring department with 16 goals and 24 assists, while goalie Devan Dubnyk has anchored the other end of the ice with a 1.88 GAA and a save percentage of .936.
Anaheim at Minnesota Game Betting Trends
- The Ducks are 9-4 in their last 13 Saturday games, but they have lost five of their last six games against a team with a winning record. The total has stayed UNDER or ended as a PUSH in their last five road games.
- The Wild are 14-3 in their last 17 games following a win and they have won 10 of their last 12 games at home. The total has gone OVER in their last five home games.
- Anaheim has won six of its last seven road games against Minnesota and it is 11-3 in the last 14 meetings overall. The total has stayed UNDER or ended as a PUSH in the last five meetings.
