Florida Panthers vs Minnesota Wild Prediction, 12/18/2024 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Florida Panthers vs Minnesota Wild

Date: Wednesday, December 18, 2024

Location: Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, MN

TV: Fanduel Sports Network

Odds/Point Spread: Panthers (+125) Wild (-145)

The Florida Panthers (19-11-2) are headed to Xcel Energy Center on Wednesday where they will go up against the Minnesota Wild (20-7-4). The moneyline on this game has Florida at +125 and Minnesota opens at -145. The over/under is set at 6.5.

The Florida Panthers were on the wrong end of the scoreboard with a 3-0 loss to the Flames in their previous contest . The Panthers had a below average offensive outing in the loss. In the matchup, they ended the night with no scores out of the 32 shots they tried. Moreover, they had 3 chances with the advantage but weren't able to convert one of them into a goal. Florida compiled 6 mins in the box in this contest.

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With respect to their scoring capabilities, the Florida Panthers have notched 112 goals (3rd in the NHL) for the year and have given up 104. For the current campaign, they have tallied 40 points and their points percentage is .625. Florida has tallied 104 power play opportunities and they have notched 27 goals during those chances, garnering them a rate of 25.96%. When playing at even strength, the Panthers have surrendered 86 goals while having 85 of their own. Florida has tried 982 shots and is the owner of a shooting percentage of 11.4%. The Panthers have had 860 shots attempted against them and have earned a save percentage of .879. Florida Panthers opponents have totaled 94 power play opportunities (14th in the league) and have tallied 18 goals in those attempts.

The player in the crease for this game is Sergei Bobrovsky. The opposition has notched 1,800 goals against Bobrovsky in his career and his goals against rate is 2.67. Bobrovsky has been involved in 721 games during his NHL career. He has a save percentage of .914 for his 40,377 minutes on the ice. He has amassed a record of 410-230-56 and he was named the starter in 705 games. Over the course of his career, Bobrovsky has accumulated 407 quality starts and his quality starts percentage is .577. Bobrovsky has seen 20,978 shots against him and has amassed 19,178 total saves.

In their last game, Minnesota played the Golden Knights in a game where the Wild went home in defeat by a mark of 3-2. They had 1 power play attempt in this outing but weren't able to notch a goal. The Wild scored 2 goals out of the 22 shots on goal they tried.

On the season, the Minnesota Wild have earned a total of 97 goals, 44 points, and a points percentage of .710. They have allowed 78 goals to be scored by way of 56 goals at even strength and 22 goals while they were shorthanded. The Wild have earned 82 goals at even strength and 15 goals (24th in hockey) while having a power play advantage. They have a total of 79 power play chances and they have a power play rate of 18.99%. Minnesota has tried 889 shots (19th in pro hockey) and has earned a shooting percentage of 10.91%, while allowing the other team 894 shots. They have earned a penalty kill rate of 70.67% on the other teams 75 power play chances, and their save percentage sits at 91.3%.

Across the rink you are going to see Filip Gustavsson protecting the goal. He has compiled 3,576 saves out of the 3,914 shots tried, which gives him a save percentage of .914. Gustavsson is the owner of a career mark of 66-45-17 and has played in 133 games. He has made the start in 125 games and his ice time sits at 6,411 minutes. Gustavsson's percentage of quality starts comes out to 60.8% and he has 76 quality starting assignments in his professional career. Teams are averaging 3.16 goals per game and he has relinquished 338 goals altogether.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Florida (+125)

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