PREMIUM
Stephen Nover's Monday Puck Line Casher
(NHL) Anaheim vs. Minnesota,
Point Spread: -1.50 | 111.00 Minnesota (Home)
Result: Loss
Point Spread: -1.50 | 111.00 Minnesota (Home)
Result: Loss
The Wild return to Minnesota in embarrassing fashion having lost two straight games to the Avalanche. There's no shame in losing to the Avs in Denver, but there is when you're outscored, 11-1, like Minnesota was.
Luckily for the Wild, they have a patsy awaiting them - the rebuilding Ducks, losers of 14 of their last 17 games. Minnesota hasn't lost three in a row all season. I certainly don't believe that streak will be broken here. I'm so sure that I'm willing to take plus price juice by laying 1 1/2 goals on the puck line since I'm not in the habit of laying such a hefty money line price.
Minnesota is on an eight-game home win streak with five of the last seven victories during that streak coming by multiple goals. Anaheim's last five losses have been by a combined 20 goals, an average loss of four goals per game.
The Ducks average a puny 2.2 goals per game, which ranks 29th. The Wild are the seventh-best defensive team in the NHL. The key will be if Minnesota can score enough to cover the puck line. The Wild have been way underwhelming on the power play. However, Anaheim has serious goalie problems.
Starting goalie John Gibson is out with injury. This leaves 40-year-old Ryan Miller and third-stringer Anthony Stolarz for the Ducks' netminder choices. Miller is well past his prime. The Ducks gave Stolarz his first start of the season this past Saturday. It didn't go well. He was pulled after allowing two goals on 14 shots in a 5-1 loss to Arizona. The offensively-starved Coyotes had entered that matchup having scored only four goals in their last five games.
Luckily for the Wild, they have a patsy awaiting them - the rebuilding Ducks, losers of 14 of their last 17 games. Minnesota hasn't lost three in a row all season. I certainly don't believe that streak will be broken here. I'm so sure that I'm willing to take plus price juice by laying 1 1/2 goals on the puck line since I'm not in the habit of laying such a hefty money line price.
Minnesota is on an eight-game home win streak with five of the last seven victories during that streak coming by multiple goals. Anaheim's last five losses have been by a combined 20 goals, an average loss of four goals per game.
The Ducks average a puny 2.2 goals per game, which ranks 29th. The Wild are the seventh-best defensive team in the NHL. The key will be if Minnesota can score enough to cover the puck line. The Wild have been way underwhelming on the power play. However, Anaheim has serious goalie problems.
Starting goalie John Gibson is out with injury. This leaves 40-year-old Ryan Miller and third-stringer Anthony Stolarz for the Ducks' netminder choices. Miller is well past his prime. The Ducks gave Stolarz his first start of the season this past Saturday. It didn't go well. He was pulled after allowing two goals on 14 shots in a 5-1 loss to Arizona. The offensively-starved Coyotes had entered that matchup having scored only four goals in their last five games.