Minnesota Wild vs Ottawa Senators December 29th 2024

Betting on today’s Senators and Wild game? Catch the action at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN, as the Wild hosts this showdown at 8:00 ET on ESPN+. The over/under for this non-conference contest is set at 5.5 goals, with the Wild being the favored by -1.5 goals against the Senators.

Ottawa vs. Minnesota Key Information

• Teams: Senators at Wild
• Where: Xcel Energy Center St. Paul
• Date: Sunday, December 29th
• Betting Odds MIN -145 | OTT +123 O/U 5.5

The Senators Can Win If…

With a 3-0 win over the Kraken, Ottawa improved to 18-15-2 this season. The Senators entered as the puck line favorites and covered the -1.5 goal line. The total was set at 6.5 goals, but the combined score of 3 fell well short.

All three of Ottawa’s goals came from different players, with Adam Gaudette opening the scoring at 5:28 in the first period. Brady Tkachuk added another in the second, and Tim Stützle sealed the win with an empty-netter in the third.

Ottawa’s offense was held to just 3 goals in their 3-0 win over the Kraken, with Tim Stützle netting his 6th goal of the season on an empty net. Brady Tkachuk added his 7th goal, while Adam Gaudette opened the scoring, also with his 7th of the year.

The Senators fired 23 shots on goal and recorded 11 giveaways. They didn’t score on the power play, but Tim Stützle picked up his 10th assist on Tkachuk’s goal.

Defensively, the Senators were solid, shutting out the Kraken and allowing just 22 shots on goal. Anton Forsberg made 22 saves, finishing with a 100% save percentage. Ottawa’s defense also tallied 2 takeaways, 25 hits, and 14 blocks.

• Across Ottawa’s last three regular season games, their record sits at 1-2. Their record against the puck line in this stretch is 1-2 to go along with an over-under mark of 1-1-1.
• Across Ottawa’s last ten regular season games, their record sits at 7-3. Against the spread, Ottawa went 5-5 in these games and finished with an over-under mark of 1-6-3.

The Wild Can Win If…

With a 2-1 overtime win over the Maple Leafs, the Wild improved to 22-10-4. Minnesota, favored on the puck line, didn’t cover, and the total was set at 6 goals, with the combined score of 3 falling well short of that.

Ryan Hartman scored first for the Wild at 9:41 in the opening period, but the Maple Leafs tied it up with just 52 seconds left in the first. Matt Boldy secured the win with a goal at 2:14 into overtime.

Ryan Hartman netted his third goal of the season, while Matt Boldy added his sixth, scoring 2:14 into overtime to secure a 2-1 victory for the Wild. Jared Spurgeon contributed with two assists, bringing his total to three for the season. Marco Rossi also picked up his seventh assist on Boldy’s game-winner.

The Wild fired 33 shots on goal but were held scoreless in the second and third periods. They had 15 giveaways and were unable to convert on any power play opportunities.

Defensively, the Wild will look to carry over their performance from the previous game, where they allowed just 1 goal to the Maple Leafs. Filip Gustavsson recorded 27 saves with a 96.4% save percentage. The Wild’s defense also had 7 takeaways and 22 hits.

• Over their last three games, the Wild have gone 2-1 straight up. This includes going 1-2 vs. the puck line and posting an over-under mark of 1-2.
• Through their last ten regular season contests, Minnesota has a record of 4-6. Their record against the puck line in this stretch is 4-6 to go along with an over-under mark of 4-6.

The Lean

For a moneyline bet, I’m backing the Senators to secure a victory over the Wild on the road. With the moneyline currently set at +123, I’m locking in my bet on the Senators straight-up.

If you’re looking to get a bet down on this matchup, we foresee the Senators winning the underdog. However, if you’re not as confident in the Senators straight-up, we’d still recommend placing a bet on them to cover the puck line.

NHL Picks and Predictions: Winning Strategies for Today’s Action

With an over/under line sitting at 5.5 goals, we like this game to surpass that mark and recommend getting a bet down on the over.

Wild Host Senators as Kirill Kaprizov’s Status Remains Uncertain

The Minnesota Wild prepare to take on the Ottawa Senators on Sunday night in St. Paul, with questions swirling around the availability of Kirill Kaprizov, their star forward. Minnesota aims to maintain its defensive discipline and adapt without Kaprizov, while the Senators look to snap a two-game losing streak during a demanding road trip.

Minnesota Wild: Building on Defensive Strengths

The Wild (18-11-4) enter the matchup as one of the NHL’s most defensively disciplined teams. While Kaprizov’s status remains uncertain due to a lower-body injury, the team is focused on sticking to its core strategy.

“You don’t try to replicate what Kaprizov does, it’s about having everyone contribute and playing to their strengths.”
-John Hynes

Kaprizov, who leads Minnesota with 23 goals, 27 assists, and 50 points in just 34 games, remains a critical part of their offense. Despite his absence, head coach John Hynes emphasized the importance of a team-first approach.

Key players stepping up include:

• Frederick Gaudreau, who is focusing on defensive discipline and creating chances.
• Goaltenders Filip Gustavsson and Marc-Andre Fleury, both providing stability in net.
• Gustavsson boasts a 2.26 goals-against average (GAA) and a .922 save percentage.
• Fleury brings veteran leadership with a 2.81 GAA and .898 save percentage.

Ottawa Senators: Seeking Road Resilience

The Senators (16-15-3) are deep into a nine-game road trip, struggling to regain their early momentum after two straight losses. Most recently, Ottawa fell 4-2 to the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday despite an early 2-0 lead.

Tim Stutzle and Ridly Greig provided the goals for Ottawa, but defensive breakdowns allowed Winnipeg to surge back. Head coach Travis Green is optimistic about his team’s effort but sees room for improvement.

Goaltender Leevi Merilainen is expected to start for Ottawa, giving Mads Sogaard a night off. Merilainen has appeared in two games this season, posting a 3.72 GAA and an .846 save percentage. The 22-year-old has yet to face the Wild in his NHL career.

Key Matchups to Watch

• Minnesota’s Defense Without Kaprizov:
  The Wild will rely on strong defensive play and balanced contributions to offset Kaprizov’s absence, if he remains sidelined.
• Ottawa’s Depth Scoring:
  With players like Tim Stutzle and Ridly Greig leading the charge, the Senators need to capitalize on scoring opportunities and avoid costly defensive lapses.
• Goaltending Battle:
  Filip Gustavsson’s consistency could give Minnesota an edge, while Leevi Merilainen’s inexperience presents a challenge for Ottawa.

Head-to-Head History

This marks the first of two regular-season meetings between these teams, with the second matchup set for Feb. 1 in Ottawa. The Wild have historically performed well against the Senators, making this a critical test for Ottawa to reverse that trend.

What’s at Stake

For Minnesota:
A win would solidify the Wild’s ability to adapt without Kaprizov and maintain their defensive focus heading into tougher matchups.

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For Ottawa:
A victory would end their losing streak and provide a confidence boost during a challenging road trip.

Prediction

Minnesota’s disciplined defensive play and home-ice advantage position them as favorites, especially with Filip Gustavsson likely starting in goal. However, if Leevi Merilainen steps up and Ottawa finds its scoring rhythm, the game could be closer than expected.

For the Wild, this game is about proving their depth and defensive resilience. For the Senators, it’s an opportunity to rebound and gain valuable experience against a playoff-caliber opponent.