ES 
NFL Previews 
MLB Previews 
NBA Previews 
NHL Previews 
Soccer Previews 
The COVID-19 odyssey for many teams continues, and one of those clubs that has been hit hard is the Minnesota Wild, who have played just eleven games thus far.
They’ve had a two-week hiatus, and you may be wondering how that might affect what they do in Tuesday night’s game against the Los Angeles Kings.
Where to Bet on the NHL Tonight
Well, we might have an answer for you – one where you can cash at BetOnline.
Minnesota Wild at Los Angeles Kings Predictions
When: 10:05 PM ET
Money Line: Wild -135, Kings +115
Total: Over 5.5 (-105), Under 5.5 (-115)
Puck Line: Wild -1.5 Goals (+180, Kings +1.5 Goals (-220)
The Kings have been outscored by a margin of 20-9 in the first period of play this season. So you may want to take a long, hard look at any first period proposition involving them.
That worked for us in the first of a two-game set against San Jose, but in the second they turned the tables on the Sharks and outscored them 3-1 in the opening stanza.
But you think about and they are giving up more than a goal and a half a game within the first 20 minutes alone.
They have either won or taken the game into overtime in seven of their 13 games, so they have been able to catch up rather often.Averaging a little more than three goals a game themselves, they are not impotent.
Minnesota has had plenty of opportunities on offense; in fact, nobody in the NHL has had a higher percentage of high-danger scoring chances in their favor. But they have not converted at a high rate.
Much of that is owed to the least effective power play in the league – by a considerable margin. The Wild has scored in just three of 42 instances when they’ve had the man advantage (7.14%). At least L.A. is in the upper half of the league in that category.
As bettors may know, it’s been kind of a disjointed season for the Wild; they have been hit hard with COVID concerns, and in fact have not actually played a game since February 2. So it might be expected that they’d have trouble getting into a little rhythm. The Kings have had four full days of rest coming into this, and that is an ideal period.
And while Los Angeles has had to use more rookies on defense with the injury absences of Matt Roy and Sean Walker, the Wild have really had to do some shuffling on the backline.
Because of a number of defensemen who are either still in the protocol phase or just coming back and not ready (or injured at the moment like team captain Jared Spurgeon), coach Dean Evason will be using a number of people who might otherwise by in the minor leagues right now.
Dakota Mermis and Louie Belpedio have had very little playing time in the NHL. Matt Bartkowski has had a career in which recently he has bounced back and forth between the NHL and AHL, and Calen Addison will be making his NHL debut. Clearly for some of these people it’s a little early to be under fire.
Betting Guide:How to Bet on NHL Player Props
But that is the way it has to be.
We are operating under the impression that 13-year veteran Jonathan Quick is getting the start in goal for Los Angeles, and that is where some of our concerns lie. Quick has had his glory days, for sure; he has won two Stanley Cups, a Conn Smythe Trophy, the Jennings Trophy, and has three All-Star berths. But there’s been some slippage. This season he has a goals-against of 4.05, with a save percentage of just .867, and Cal Petersen, who is fourth in the NHL in GSAA (Goals Saved Above Average) looks poised to take over the #1 spot sooner or later.
Quick has been the subject of trade rumors of late. Ron Hextall, who was a VP and assistant general manager when the Kings won the Cup with Quick the first time, and had come back into a front office role with Los Angeles, was just named GM of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and he is reportedly interested. Could this be a showcase of sorts for the veteran?
Who knows. But what we DO know is that all six of Quick’s starts this season have gone over the total. And the Kings overall have played to the “over” ten of their 13 games. With all of the young, inexperienced defensemen who are likely to be in action, more offense might materialize for these teams. Let’s make some money.
The Play: OVER 5.5 (-105)
