St. Louis (31-28-7) at Minnesota (37-24-5)
- When: Mar 15 2025, 8:00 PM
- Where: Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, MN, USA
- TV: FDSN
Minnesota Wild vs. St. Louis Blues: Betting Preview & Predictions
Moneyline Favorite: St. Louis (-112) | Total: 5.5
Two Central Division rivals face off on Saturday night as the Minnesota Wild look to extend their dominance over the St. Louis Blues, having already won all three meetings this season. However, St. Louis enters the matchup as the slight favorite despite their recent struggles.
Minnesota Wild: Searching for Puck Luck & a Scoring Boost
The Wild (30-27-8) have been playing solid hockey, but the goals just aren’t coming as easily as they’d like. Coach John Hynes remains optimistic, emphasizing that his team is generating quality scoring chances but hasn’t caught many breaks.
“We’re doing the right things, but the puck just isn’t bouncing our way,” Hynes said. “We have to stay aggressive and trust that the results will come.”
Minnesota has managed to win all three meetings with St. Louis this season, outscoring the Blues 14-7 in those matchups. Their most recent victory came on January 7, when they posted a 6-4 win behind strong performances from Marcus Johansson and Jacob Middleton.
Offensively, the Wild are led by Matt Boldy (55 points), Marco Rossi (53 points), and Kirill Kaprizov (52 points in just 37 games). However, with Kaprizov still out, others will need to step up to keep the offense clicking.
In net, Minnesota has a strong duo in Filip Gustavsson (2.57 GAA, .915 SV%) and Marc-André Fleury (2.72 GAA, .904 SV%). Given the importance of this matchup, Gustavsson is likely to start as he gives the team a better chance to snap their recent scoring woes.
Key Factor: Minnesota’s defense has held St. Louis in check, but they must capitalize on their scoring chances to keep their edge over the Blues.
St. Louis Blues: Fighting for Playoff Position
The Blues (32-28-5) remain in the mix for a wild-card spot, but every game is critical down the stretch. St. Louis has lost back-to-back games, including a 5-3 loss to Pittsburgh and a 2-1 overtime defeat to Los Angeles.
“We know how important these games are,” forward Zachary Bolduc said. “We have to keep pushing and find a way to get points.”
The Blues’ offense runs through Robert Thomas (52 points), Jordan Kyrou (50 points), and Dylan Holloway (48 points), but they’ve struggled against Minnesota’s defense all season.
St. Louis has a decision to make in net, as they could roll with Jordan Binnington (2.83 GAA, .897 SV%) or Joel Hofer (2.87 GAA, .900 SV%). Binnington has struggled in big games, but his experience could give him the edge in a must-win situation.
Key Factor: The Blues have to break through Minnesota’s defense and limit turnovers to avoid another frustrating loss.
Betting Prediction: Minnesota Wins Again & The Under Hits
This game carries major playoff implications, but Minnesota has simply had St. Louis’ number this season.
The Wild have won all three matchups this year by a combined 14-7 margin.
Minnesota’s defense has held up well, even when the offense struggles.
Both teams have goaltending concerns, but Minnesota’s defensive structure gives them the edge.
Expect a tight, physical battle, but with Minnesota’s track record against the Blues, they should complete the season sweep in a low-scoring game.
Best Bet: Minnesota Wild Moneyline (-108)
Lean:
Under 5.5 (-130) .
- NHL Odds source: Bovada Sportsbook
