The Minnesota Wild (34-27-8) take on the Los Angeles Kings (35-22-11) Wednesday at Crypto.com Arena. Puck drop is set for 10 p.m. ET (TNT). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Wild vs. Kings odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
After running wild on the Anaheim Ducks 4-0 Tuesday night, Minnesota comes up the 5 freeway into Los Angeles. LW Kirill Kaprizov scored his 36th goal of the season in the victory. He has goals in 5 straight games and has 10 goals in 9 games this month. The Wild have won 4 of 5 and sit 3 points out of the final Wild Card spot in the West.
The Kings are holding tightly to their 3rd-place playoff spot in the Pacific. The Vegas Golden Knights are 2 points behind them and sit in the final Wild Card. So there is quite the logjam and potential pitfall in the West. The Kings have cascaded wins and losses in their last 8 games. They’re coming off a 6-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks Thursday night as C Anze Kopitar tickled the twine twice. Say that fast, 10 times.
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Wild at Kings odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:22 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Wild +130 (bet $100 to win $130) | Kings -155 (bet $155 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Wild +1.5 (-200) | Kings -1.5 (+165)
- Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
Wild at Kings projected goalies
Marc-Andre Fleury (16-11-4, 2.67 GAA, .906 SV%, 2 SO) vs. David Rittich (10-5-3, 2.29 GAA, .916%, 2 SO)
“The Flower” has been amazing in March at 4-1-1 with a 1.64 GAA and .936 SV%. He has stopped 147 of 157 shots fired his way. He faced the Kings early in the season and allowed 5 goals on 25 shots, but the 39-year-old is on his game right now.
Rittich is feast or famine. He has 2 shutouts this month, and he has allowed 4+ goals 4 times. He’s 4-3-0 with a 2.68 GAA and .898 SV% in 7 March starts. He has not faced the Wild this year.
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Wild at Kings picks and predictions
Prediction
Wild 4, Kings 2
Moneyline
It probably won’t receive the fanfare, but this is the game of the night and maybe the game of the week because these 2 are battling it out for a playoff spot. If the Wild wins, the Kings could fall all the way to the 2nd Wild Card spot where Minnesota and the St. Louis Blues are hovering on the outside looking in.
Fleury and “Kirill the Thrill” are the keys here. Both teams are on back-to-backs, and while the Kings are at home, the Wild are playing much better hockey and are showing the desperation needed to get in the playoffs. Take the WILD +155.
Puck line/Against the spread
Insurance for the Wild is far too expensive, so let’s try to bang out a prop bet. As mentioned, Kaprizov has scored in 5 straight games and has 10 goals in 9 games. He’s the best player on the ice Wednesday, and he’s playing like it. And you’re going to give us +160 for him to score again on Wednesday?
LA has a great defense, but he beat it in the Game earlier this season. Take KIRILL KAPRIZOV ANYTIME GOAL +160.
Over/Under
Over! The Kings’ goaltending is far too inconsistent, and quite frankly, I expected to see a 6.5 here. The final score of the last meeting was 7-3, and we’ve had 6+ in 5 of the last 9 meetings.
Take the OVER 5.5 (-115).
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