Free Picks: St. Louis Blues vs. Minnesota Wild

The Wild and Blues have met once this season. With how strong Minnesota has been on both sides of the puck in the opening frame, I focus this NHL prediction on the 1st-period puck line. The Blues have struggled while the Wild have excelled. Will that trend continue on Friday?

It’s almost absurd to think that this season, the Blues and Wild have only faced off on one occasion. Friday night, the Wild and Blues will add another chapter to their regular-season storybook.

Looking back at their first and only meeting of the season, the Wild were able to shutout the Blues 2-0 on March 25.

What did we learn from that game? Well, all goals were scored in the second period by Minnesota. Other than that, I don’t think much was revealed in that contest.

Even so, I think I have a good idea which way I will be betting for this contest. In this free NHL prediction, I want to focus on the puck line. While that isn’t anything special, I am digging deep into the puck line.

Specifically, I want to focus on Minnesota’s puck line for the first period. This is the first bet I have made and written about on BetPicks, to this nature but I am very confident in this selection.

We will start with St. Louis. In the first period this season, the Blues have allowed 33 goals. While they allow the most goals in the second period, I want to focus on the opening period because of how strong the Wild are and how they should smother St. Louis.

Not only are the Wild considered high-scorers in the opening period, they are defensive specialists in the first period. The Wild have allowed only 21 goals in the first 20 minutes.

The Wild have also scored 39 of their 115 goals this season in the first period as well.

So, if you couple the fact that Minnesota scores 33% of all goals in the first period with the knowledge of the Wild allowing only 21% of all goals in the first period, then you have yourself a wager!

Minnesota will do damage in the first period and have been stellar on defense in the first period as well. And for that, I think taking the Wild puck line at -0.5 is your best NHL bet for this contest.

• Minnesota has scored 18 goals in the 1^st period on the road.
• The Wild are ranked 6^th in team defence.
• The Blues rank 24^th in goals allowed.
• St. Louis has allowed 16 goals in the 1^st period at home this season.