The Minnesota Wild (2-2-0) and New Jersey Devils (3-1-0) meet in the NHL tonight. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. EDT at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
The Devils are favored by -1.5 on the puck line, with the over/under set at 5.5 (-125 / +105). The Devils are a -130 favorite to win outright, while the Wild are +110 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Wild vs. Devils predictions and NHL picks.
Wild vs. Devils Odds, Pick
| Wild Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -240 | 5.5 -125o / 105u | +110 |
| Devils Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +200 | 5.5 -125o / 105u | -130 |
- Wild vs. Devils Spread: Wild +1.5 (-240), Devils -1.5 (+200)
- Wild vs. Devils Over/Under: 5.5 (-125 / +105)
- Wild vs. Devils Moneyline: Wild +110, Devils -130
Wild vs. Devils Preview
The Minnesota Wild have struggled to generate momentum this season. They have lost three of the past four games, with their lone win coming against a struggling New York Rangers team.
Quite frankly, there is little to like about Minnesota’s play so far. Struggling both offensively and defensively, the Wild rank in the bottom 10 in the league in both expected goals for per 60 minutes (xGF/60) and expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA/60).
Not only has this team failed to generate high-danger scoring chances and suppress them effectively on the other end, but its goaltending hasn’t been able to bail it out. Filip Gustavsson has fought hard behind the poor play in front of him, yet he has still allowed three or more goals in three of his past four starts.
Gustavsson is 1-3 over that stretch with a .878 save percentage (SV%) and a 3.81 goals-against average (GAA). Those struggles are likely to continue against the New Jersey Devils, a team that has given him trouble.
Over the past three meetings, the Swedish goaltender is 0-2-1 with a .879 SV% and 3.92 GAA.
While Minnesota has gotten off to a poor start this season, the opposite is true for New Jersey. The Devils have won most of their games to open the campaign and outrank the Wild in both xGF/60 and xGA/60.
Not only does New Jersey own the offensive and defensive edge, but goaltender Nico Daws is set to make his anticipated first start of the season. He played in only six games during last year’s regular season but impressed with a 3-1 record, .939 SV% and 1.60 GAA.
Wild vs. Devils Prediction
There’s a lot to like about New Jersey in this matchup. The Devils are the superior team both offensively and defensively, while Daws offers strong upside potential in net.
New Jersey is also on home ice, where it is undefeated this season. The only reason this team is as short as -130 on the moneyline is that it enters on the second half of a back-to-back following Tuesday night’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
That said, a back-to-back doesn’t offset New Jersey’s other advantages.
Pick: Devils Moneyline (-130 | Play to -135)
