Bruins vs Wild Picks and Predictions: Boston Handles Spiraling Minnesota Squad

The Boston Bruins have lost just once in regulation over their last 12 games and have shortened the gap in the Eastern standings. They’ll ride that momentum into a road meeting with the Minnesota Wild tonight as Dean Evason’s group is still driving the struggle bus with just two regulation wins over their last 11 games. 

Can the Bruins pick up another victory despite an overtime win last night in Chicago? Can the Wild take advantage of the schedule and stop the skid in the standings? Find out in our free NHL picks and predictions for Wild vs. Bruins.

Bruins vs Wild odds

This odds widget represents the best odds available for each betting market from regulated sportsbooks.

The Wild opened as slight -120 home favorites against the Bruins who are on the second game of a traveling back-to-back. The total currently sits at 6, with  Minnesota having won a January 6 meeting, 3-2, as +145 road dogs with the same closing total.

Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right until puck drop and be sure to check out the full NHL odds before betting to ensure you get the best number.

Bruins vs Wild predictions

• Prediction: Bruins ML (+100)
• Prediction: Over 6 (-110)
• Best bet: Bruins ML (+100)

Predictions made on 3/16/2022 at 9:00 a.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.

Bruins vs Wild game info

• Location: Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, MN
• Date: Wednesday, March 16, 2022
• Puck drop: 7:30 p.m. ET
• TV: TNT

Bruins vs Wild betting preview

Key injuries

Bruins: No injuries to report.
Wild: No injuries to report.
Find our latest NHL injury reports.

Bruins vs Wild head-to-head record since 2016-17

Bruins: 6-3 SU, 28 goals for.
Wild: 3-6 SU, 18 goals for.

Betting trend to know

The Bruins are 7-1 SU in their last eight road games. Find more NHL betting trends for Bruins vs. Wild.

Bruins vs Wild picks and predictions

Our side and total predictions are based upon our analysis of the line and total in this game. Our best bet is our favorite pick across all markets.

Moneyline analysis

The Bruins are making a late-season push up the divisional standings and not a lot of people are talking about how well Bruce Cassidy’s squad is playing of late. Since February 1, only the Calgary Flames have a better point percentage than them who are 12-4-2 over that stretch and also have the league’s second-lowest GAA at 2.32.

Over their last 10 games, they've held their opponents to under three regulation goals seven times. However, it’s likely the Boston offense that is getting excited about this road matchup.

The Wild are 7-11 straight up since Feb. 1 and are giving up 4.00 goals per game over that span. Only two other teams have given up more goals in that time and neither Cam Talbot nor Kaapo Kahkonen can soften the blows.

Both goalies have a GAA above 3.00 over Minnesota's last 18 games and Kahkonen gave up four goals in his last start leading us to believe the Bruins will likely see Cam Talbot tonight. 

Talbot is coming off a game where he allowed five goals to the Red Wings in a 6-5 shootout win and has given up four or more goals in six of his last seven. Numbers like those must have the B's players' mouths watering, with a potential to stuff the stat sheet.

Minnesota might need to score four times to win this game and with how well Boston's defense is playing that is much easier said than done.

Linus Ullmark got the overtime win in net for the Bruins last night so it’s likely Jeremy Swayman gets the nod tonight. That’s bad news for Minnesota as Swayman has been one of the hottest goalies in hockey. He owns a 9-1-1 record over his last 11 starts with a 1.70 GAA and a .939 SV%, the best goalie numbers in the league over the last 45 days.

Swayman has won an incredible eight straight starts and has allowed more than two goals just twice over that stretch. This is not the goalie the Wild wanted to see as they try to snap out of their funk.

The Bruins are also a hard team to match up against on the road even with the last change. The Jake DeBrusk-Patrice Bergeron-Brad Marchand line, as well as the Taylor Hall-Erik Haula-David Pastrnak line, are cruising right along.

The third line has also been on fire as of late with Charlie Coyle and Craig Smith combining for 25 points over the Bruins’ last 18 games. 

The B's have the advantage in net, can match the depth of the Wild offensively, and face a Minnesota penalty kill that has allowed 12 goals over its last nine games.

If this game wasn’t on the backend of a back-to-back, Boston would likely be favored which makes sense. These are two teams heading in opposite directions and we’re happy riding the Bruins’ hot play and getting even money. 

Prediction: Bruins moneyline (+100)

Over/Under analysis

The Wild’s inconsistent play in net has led to a successful run on the Over across their last nine games where they're 8-1 O/U and 12-3 O/U in their last 15.

This is a Minnesota team that's averaging 7.39 total goals per game since Feb. 1 and although it's facing one of the hottest goalies in the league in Swayman, we’re leaning on the Over with this modest total of 6 tonight.

Even if Swayman can hold this potent offense to two goals, we like this Boston offense to do the heavy lifting. First off, Cassidy’s top three lines are rolling and the Bruins have scored 31 of their last 35 goals at even strength.

The power play hasn’t been clicking of late but a date with the Wild’s 31st ranked penalty kill since Feb. 1 could certainly fix that. Minnesota has allowed 11 power-play goals over its last nine games and in four of those matches, it has surrendered at least two. 

Talbot has been an auto-fade of late as well. The struggling goalie has gone 6-1 to the Over across his last seven starts and owns a 3.84 GAA with an unsightly .870 SV% over that stretch. His team knows it has to score to win as his play in net has been terrible recently.

The last meeting hit the Under with a 3-2 final but three total power-play goals were scored, 68 total shots got to the net and five goals were scored in the game’s first 36 minutes.

That game finishing with five total goals scored was a bad beat for Over 6 backers. It also saw a ton of penalties as there were 15 minor penalties called and the matchup featured a pair of fights. If the referees decide to keep this game under control, we could see plenty of more power-play opportunities for both clubs. 

Swayman might be deterring bettors from hitting the Over, but this Boston offense could hang five themselves and the Wild could easily get going on the man advantage after getting 11 opportunities and scoring on two of them in the last meeting.

Prediction: Over 6 (-110)

Best bet

Anytime we can hitch our wagon to the hottest goalie in the league, the best team in its conference since the beginning of 2022, AND get +100 on the moneyline, we’re diving in headfirst. Boston is playing its best hockey of the season and Swayman hasn’t lost in eight straight. 

The Wild aren’t playing with much confidence lately thanks to some poor play in net and even with the Bruins playing in Chicago last night, they are playing too well right now not to take advantage of this +100 ML price tag.

Pick: Bruins moneyline (+100)

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