Vancouver Canucks vs Minnesota Wild Prediction, 12/16/2023 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Vancouver Canucks vs Minnesota Wild

Date: Saturday, December 16, 2023

Location: Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, MN

TV: Bally Sports North

Odds/Point Spread: Canucks (+100) Wild (-125)

Xcel Energy Center is the site where the Minnesota Wild (11-12-4) will attempt to defeat the Vancouver Canucks (20-9-1) on Saturday. The odds on this game have Vancouver at +100 and Minnesota is opening at -125. The total is 7.

The Vancouver Canucks had a good night with a 4-0 victory against the Panthers in their previous game. Vancouver accounted for 6 mins in the box in this matchup. The Canucks had a solid offensive performance in this win. They also had 3 power play chances and notched 1 goal. For the outing, they scored on 4 out of the 18 shots they attempted.

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When discussing their scoring, the Vancouver Canucks have notched 115 goals (1st in the league) over the course of the season and have conceded 74. For the current campaign, they have accumulated 41 points and their points percentage is sitting at .683. Vancouver steps onto the ice with 105 power play chances and they have scored 28 goals out of those attempts, giving them a percentage of 26.67%. While playing at even strength, the Canucks let the opposition score 52 goals while having 87 of their own. Vancouver has taken 836 shots and is the owner of a shooting percentage of 13.8%. The Canucks have seen 901 shots tried against them and are the owners of a save percentage of .918. Vancouver Canucks opponents have totaled 94 power play opportunities (13th in professional hockey) and have racked up 22 goals in those attempts.

The man protecting the goal in this game is Thatcher Demko. For his professional hockey career, Demko has accrued 104 quality starts and his quality starts percentage is at .565. He has a save percentage of .912 in his 11,093 mins played. Demko has had 5,922 shots against him and has recorded 5,399 saves. Opponents have tallied 523 goals against Demko in his career and his average for goals against per game is 2.83. He has amassed a record of 96-74-15 and he was named the starter in 184 games. Demko has participated in 190 contests over the course of his NHL career.

Their last time out, Minnesota faced off against the Flames in a matchup where the Wild got the tie by a mark of 2-2. They had 3 power play chances in this contest but weren't able to put one in the back of the net. The Wild recorded 2 goals of the 32 shots on goal they were seeking.

Minnesota has tried 820 shots (25th in the NHL) and has accumulated a shot percentage of 10.00%, while allowing their opponents 816 shots. They have earned a penalty kill percentage of 71.58% on their opponents 95 power play chances, and their save percentage currently comes in at 89.2%. They have earned 93 opportunities on the power play and they have a power play rate of 17.20%. The Wild have racked up 66 goals at even strength and 16 goals (22nd in professional hockey) while on the power play. They have allowed 88 goals to be scored by way of 61 goals at even strength and 27 goals while they had less men on the ice. For the season, the Minnesota Wild have a total of 82 goals, 26 points, and a points percentage of .481.

For the opposition you will find Filip Gustavsson between the pipes. The opposition is averaging 2.60 goals per game and he has relinquished 208 goals in total. Gustavsson's percentage of quality starts comes out to 62.3% and he has qualified for 48 quality starting assignments in his NHL career. He has made the start in 77 contests and has racked up 4,802 minutes. Gustavsson is the owner of a career record of 39-29-12 and has played in 83 games. He is sitting with 2,288 stops out of 2,496 shots taken, which gives him a save % of .917.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Vancouver (+100)

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