Wild vs Canucks Prediction – NHL Picks 12/7/23

The Minnesota Wild will play the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia. Minnesota has won four games in a row, while Vancouver has alternated wins and losses over their last nine games. Let’s take a look at the betting matchup and the Wild vs Canucks prediction. 

Wild Preview

The Minnesota Wild are 9-10-4 this season after they defeated the Flames by a score of 5-2 in their last game. Minnesota had their lead cut to 4-2 in the third period, but they were able to add an insurance goal for the three-goal win. The Wild were out shot by a total of 30-29 and went 1-3 on the power play in the game. Minnesota has also defeated Chicago, Nashville, and St. Louis during this winning streak. The Wild are scoring 3.22 goals per game and they are allowing 3.48 goals against per game, while going 18.8% on the power play and 71.1% on the penalty kill. Mats Zuccarello has led the Wild this year with six goals, 21 assists, and 65 shots on goal. The projected starting goalie for Minnesota is Marc-Andre Fleury, who is 4-4-2 this season with a 3.21 goals against average and a .884 save percentage. 

Canucks Preview

The Vancouver Canucks are 16-9-1 this year after they lost to the Devils by a score of 6-5 in their last game. Vancouver trailed 4-1 in the first period, but they were able to tie the game at five, before allowing the game winning goal with 34 seconds left. The Canucks out shot New Jersey by a total of 33-32 and went 1-4 on the power play in the game. Vancouver defeated Calgary by a score of 4-3 in the game prior to New Jersey, but they lost to Vegas in the game before that. Vancouver is scoring 3.88 goals per game and they are allowing 2.69 goals against per game, while going 27.4% on the power play and 74.4% on the penalty kill. J.T. Miller has led the Canucks with 14 goals, 25 assists, and 60 shots on goal. The projected starting goalie for Vancouver is Thatcher Demko, who is 12-7-0 this year with a 2.46 goals against average and a .917 save percentage. 

Vancouver Canucks Team Facts

• The Canucks have won each of their last eight games as favorites following a home loss.
• The Canucks have covered the puck line in each of their last eight games against opponents on a winning streak.
• The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 3′ market has hit in each of the Canucks’ last 10 games.
• The Canucks have won the second period in each of their last six games as home favorites following a home loss.

Minnesota Wild Team Facts

• The Wild have lost each of their last seven night games following a road win.
• The Wild have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last seven night games following a road win.
• The ‘Over 2.5 Goals Period 1’ market has hit in three of the Wild’s last four games following a road win.
• The Wild have lost the third period in each of their last four games following a road win.

Vancouver Canucks Player Prop Facts

• J.T. Miller has recorded at least one point in each of the Canucks’ last 10 games as home favorites against Western Conference opponents.
• J.T. Miller has scored at least one goal in eight of the Canucks’ last 10 games as home favorites.
• Brock Boeser has recorded an assist in each of the Canucks’ last four games as home favorites against Central Division opponents.
• J.T. Miller ranks 1st in the league for multi-assist games (9) this season.

Minnesota Wild Player Prop Facts

• Mats Zuccarello has recorded at least one point in each of his last eight appearances against Western Conference opponents.
• Matthew Boldy has scored at least one goal in each of the Wild’s last four games as underdogs against Pacific Division opponents.
• Mats Zuccarello has recorded at least one assist in nine of the Wild’s last 10 games.
• Matthew Boldy ranks T3rd in the Central Division for shootout goals (1) this season.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Vancouver Canucks are one of five teams to rank in the top 10 for both goals scored and goals conceded per game this season.
• The Vancouver Canucks ranks 6th in the league for goals against per game this season (2.69).
• The Minnesota Wild ranks 30th in the league for power play goals against this season (24).
• The Minnesota Wild are one of only three teams to win a game when trailing by 2 or more goals after Period 1 this season.

Wild vs Canucks Betting Prediction

The Wild come into this matchup on a four game winning streak and they have out scored their opponents by a total of 18-5 in those four games. Vancouver has not been able to string any wins together over the last couple of weeks, but they are 8-3-1 at home on the year. Minnesota fired their coach after their last losing streak, and they have not lost since. On the season, Vancouver is a very good defensive team, but they have allowed four goals or more in three of their last five games. I really liked how Vancouver played in the third period against New Jersey and I think they are going to bounce back with a win here. 

David Racey's Pick: Canucks ML