Bet the Blackhawks vs Wild NHL Spread

Posted by Henry Watkins on Monday,March 28, 2016 1:12, EDT in

When you enter the new season as the defending champion, there is a sense that a team should be able to pick up right where they left off. That seldom happens, though, as there are often off season changes to consider, as well as the fact that every team in the league is going to be gunning to take the champions down. That is pretty much how things have gone for the Chicago Blackhawks this season, and while they are going into the playoffs with a shot at defending their crown, they are definitely not doing so as the favorites. Most teams would be delighted to have had the season that Chicago has had so far, but there are some who look at their current 3rd place standing in the Central Division as being something of an underachievement. They still have an outside shot of winning the division, but could fall even further back if they get nothing out of this crucial game versus the Wild on Tuesday night. This is a big game, so be sure to keep an eye on the updated pro hockey odds at MyBookie.ag in order to find the best value.

How To Bet The Chicago Vs Minnesota NHL Odds, TV & Game Info:

When: Thursday, March 29 at 8 PM EST
Where: Xcel Energy Center, Minnesota
TV: CSNC and FSN
Radio: Blackhawks and Wild
Live Stream: FoxSportsGo
NHL Odds: TBA

Why bet on the Chicago Blackhawks

If truth be told, the Blackhawks (44-25-7) have pretty much given the division title away thanks to how poorly they have played over the past few weeks. Chicago are coming into this one having won back to back games, but those wins came on the heels of a run that saw them lose 7 of 9. The fact that they are still just 4 points out of first tells you how well things had been going up to that point. This will be the 3rd game on a 4-game game road trip for the Hawks, who have already won the opening 2 games against Calgary and Vancouver. They can expect a little bit of tougher opposition here, as the Wild are trying to clinch the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. Chicago are averaging 2.8 GPG, and are giving up 2.4 GPG.

Why bet on the Minnesota Wild

While it’s not yet totally official, the smart money is on the Minnesota Wild clinching that final Wild Card spot in the West. They now have a 5-point lead over the chasing Avalanche, and are on a solid run that has seen them go 6-3-1 in their last 10 games. Best of all, they have enjoyed some real dominance over the Blackhawks in recent meetings, and have in fact beat them on 6 straight occasions, including 4 times this season. Minnesota have a 20-13-4 record on home ice this season, which is just one more reason to think that they might be able to get something out of this one. The Wild are averaging 2.7 GPG, and are giving up 2.5 GPG.

Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction

I expect the Blackhawks to be a little more comfortable knowing that they are in the postseason, while the Wild may be taking things up a notch. That, combined with Minnesota’s recent dominance over the Hawks makes this a Wild win for me.

Chicago Blackhawks 2 Minnesota Wild 3