Pittsburgh Penguins vs Minnesota Wild Prediction, 3/31/2022 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Pittsburgh Penguins vs Minnesota Wild

Date: Thursday, March 31, 2022

Location: Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, MN

TV: Bally Sports North

Odds/Point Spread: Penguins (+110) Wild (-133)

The Pittsburgh Penguins (40-18-10) are on their way to Xcel Energy Center on Thursday where they will take on the Minnesota Wild (41-20-4). The moneyline on this game has Pittsburgh at +110 and Minnesota opens at -133. The over/under is 6.

The Pittsburgh Penguins were on the losing side of the ice with a 3-2 loss against the Rangers their last time on the ice. Pittsburgh accumulated 8 minutes in the box in this outing. The Penguins didn't have their best offensive outing in the defeat. Additionally, they had 3 power play attempts and were able to notch 1 goal. For the game, they converted 2 of the 24 shots they launched.

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The Penguins have had 2,068 shots attempted against them and are the owners of a save percentage of .915. While at even strength, the Penguins have conceded 152 goals while notching 177 of their own. Pittsburgh Penguins opponents have totaled 169 power play opportunities (31st in hockey) and have a total of 24 goals in those attempts. For the current campaign, they have scored 90 points and their points percentage comes in at .662. Pittsburgh has taken 2,342 shots and holds a shooting percentage of 9.6%. When it comes to their scoring capabilities, the Pittsburgh Penguins have accounted for 224 goals (9th in the NHL) over the course of the season and have surrendered 176. Pittsburgh steps onto the ice with 212 power play chances and they have scored 47 goals during those advantages, giving them a rate of 22.17%.

The man protecting the net in this game is Tristan Jarry. Opponents have notched 372 goals versus Jarry in his pro hockey career and his average for goals against per game is 2.54. Jarry has participated in 154 games during his hockey career. He has a save percentage of .915 in his 8,776 minutes guarding the cage. He has accumulated a win-loss record of 92-43-13 and he has started in 146 games. From the beginning of his pro career to now, Jarry has accrued 90 quality starts and his rate for quality starts is .616. Jarry has seen 4,396 shots taken against him and has gathered 4,024 saves.

Their last time out, Minnesota faced off against the Flyers in a game where the Wild earned a victory by a tally of 4-1. The Wild scored 4 goals out of the 37 shots on goal they attempted. They had 3 power play attempts in this game and scored 1 goal out of those tries.

The Wild have racked up 196 goals at even strength and 40 goals (18th in the league) while having more men on the ice. Minnesota has attempted 2,134 shots (13th in hockey) and has a shot percentage of 11.06%, while allowing the other team 2,065 shots. On the season, the Minnesota Wild have earned 236 goals, 86 points, in addition to a points percentage of .662. They have earned 195 power play chances and they have accumulated a power play rate of 20.51%. They have recorded a penalty kill rate of 76.19% on their opponents 210 power play opportunities, and their save percentage currently sits at 90.4%. They have permitted 199 goals to be scored by way of 149 goals at even strength and 50 goals while they had less men on the ice.

On the other side of the ice you will find Marc-Andre Fleury protecting the net. The opposition is averaging 2.56 goals per game and he has relinquished 2,301 goals overall. Fleury's quality start rate comes in at 55.2% and he has made 427 quality starts in his pro career. He was named a starter in 774 contests and has been on the ice for 53,851 mins. Fleury has earned a career mark of 513-297-87 and has been in net for 930 games. He has accrued 24,151 stops out of the 26,452 shots attempted against him, which gives him a save percentage of .913.

Who will win tonight's NHL game against the spread or moneyline?

Josh's Pick: Take Pittsburgh (+110)

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