Blue Jackets vs. Wild Odds
| Blue Jackets Odds | +185 |
| Wild Odds | -225 |
| Over/Under | 6.5 (-115/-105) |
| Time | 8 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN+ |
| Odds via BetMGM. Get up-to-the-minute NHL Odds here. | |
The Minnesota Wild look to be in a great position to push their win streak to five consecutive games, skating as massive favorites when they host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday night.
The Wild will likely be raring to go in what will likely be goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury's debut with the club. Will they manage a big effort against a Blue Jackets group that has allowed a ton of chances against all season long?
Minnesota Wild
Minnesota holds one of the Western Conference's better rosters on paper and has consistently been wildly successful during Dean Evason's tenure as head coach.
So the midseason funk the Wild fell into throughout February and March, when they played to a 2-8-0 record, was certainly surprising. However, they seem to have found their footing of late, firing off a 6-1-1 tear heading into this matchup.
Over these last eight games, the Wild have played to a dominant 59.88 expected goals rate. It has been clear that their game has come back to what we expect.
Minnesota has played to a 21-7-1 mark at home this season and received a clear boost when playing front of what is quietly one of the more raucous crowds in hockey at the Xcel Energy Centre.
Fleury is considered likely to make his Wild debut here, so it will be interesting to see how much his play improves in what will be a better situation. Fleury was far from great this season with Chicago, but could obviously be a candidate to bounce-back given his credentials and the fact that he was last season's Vezina Trophy winner.
Fleury holds a -17.3 goals saved above expected rating with a .908 save % throughout 45 games played this season.
Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus was true to form on Friday night in Winnipeg, allowing a high mark of 4.13 expected goals against in the 4-3 overtime defeat.
The Blue Jackets have allowed a ton of chances against all season long, and the month of March has been no different with the club playing to a 3.19 xGA/60 mark altogether.
Columbus have been a likable story all season long, and has continued to scrap its way to more points than expected in the standings.
Over their last 11 games the Blue Jackets hold just a 45.58% expected goals share. And considering the below-average net-minding the team holds, they do appear to be one of the bigger overachievers league wide.
It's easy for me to see the Wild controlling far more of the play over the Blue Jackets, who will head in after the overtime contest in Winnipeg.
The amount of chances the Wild will likely create could likely lead to a big offensive output, as we will likely see J.F. Berube in goal for the Jackets. Berube has been a great story for the Blue Jackets this season playing to a +3.1 goals saved above expected rating
Blue Jackets vs. Wild Pick
Given the roster on hand and the continued success seen from the Wild over coach Evason's tenure, it's not surprising to see this group pull itself out of a mid-season tailspin of late.
Skating in a favorable spot as host to a Blue Jackets team that allows a ton of chances against, it's easy to see the Wild offense putting together a big night. They could quite logically receive a bit of a boost skating in front of Fleury in his likely his debut, which makes me more confident we see the Wild find a high level of urgency here.
Altogether, it's easy for me to see Minnesota comfortably winning this game, so getting +110 at the time of writing for a puck-line cover holds a lot of value.
Pick: Wild -1.5 (+110) | Play to -110
