Ice Hockey | Friday, December 16, 2022 2:00 PM (Revised at: Friday, December 16, 2022 2:01 PM)

Minnesota Wild vs Chicago Blackhawks Best Bet: Hawks Soaring Down the Mountain

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US Sports Expert

Minnesota Wild vs Chicago Blackhawks Best Bet: Friday, December 16th

The Minnesota Wild play host to the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday night, and if things get much worse those Hawks will remain in the battle for the worst spot in the Western Conference table. Our resident hockey pundit Ej Garr has another gem for our readers to enjoy, so let’s take it to the ice and end the week on a high note.

In this article:

Minnesota Wild vs Chicago Blackhawks Preview

Sat, December 17, 01:00 (UK time)

First of all, let’s point out that if you tailed my action this week you are 4 – 0 and have more money in your pocket for the Holiday rush! You’re welcome!

Secondly, it’s time to pick out another gem for Friday and we only have a trio of games to choose from so we are headed to Minnesota. Out of all 3 games on the slate today, I could have tried to fade Le Flame again, and amazingly they are heavily favoured despite losing 4 straight outings. The problem is the Blues stink, and I wasn’t going near that match with real money on the line.

If we have to put our hard-earned money into any action tonight, I am suggesting you look at the Wild to be up at the end of the first period, and that way we’ll be paid in 20 minutes. I sat through the Vegas / Hawks 1st period last night so I could use that to carry into this preview, and what an ugly first period it was. Vegas outshot the Hawks 13 – 8 in the opening frame and came away with a 1 – 0 lead after 20 minutes of action.

The issue was giveaways, and when you have as many giveaways as you do shots on goal, bad things happen, man, bad things! With the Ducks’ victory over Montreal on Thursday night combined with the Hawks’ loss to Vegas, Chicago is now the bottom-feeder of the Western Conference standings. Hey, there is nowhere else to go but up from here, baby! Ha!

It’s hard to watch, much less even take in how bad this organization has become after all the success through the 2015 campaign. Since winning that Stanley Cup, the Hawks have been among the worst teams in all of hockey, and they’ve missed the playoffs four of the last 5 seasons. Let’s go on a limb and say things are looking grim for that to change in 2022-23.

Someone has to be the worst, right? Well, the Hawks have scored the fewest goals in the NHL this year, and now they have to shake off a 5-game losing skid against a Wild team that will show no mercy on this Hawks team. If anything, Minnesota is going to make sure they step on the gas, knowing that Chicago is playing the second of a back-to-back with zero momentum in tow.

The line setters felt like being nice to us today, and they left enough meat on the bone to grab the Wild to have, at least, a 1 – 0 lead after 20 minutes. I see 2.04 odds listed at Pinnacle for the Minnesota -0.5 1st-period, and that’s where the money is!

Do we need rankings today? Why, do you want me to point out that Chicago is dead-last in the league in shots on goal, and goals scored, and their defensive numbers are just as bad? There, now you know!

Minnesota is riding a 3-game win streak, and they’ve only allowed 2 goals during that span. After shutting out Vancouver on the 10th, Edmonton and Detroit were both limited to one score and handed losses by the Wild, and that continues into Friday. Minnesota has Ottawa on deck, so there is nothing in front of them to be worried about either.

Marc-Andre Fleury is looking more like his former self, and he’s gotten that GAA average down to 3.05 now. If you recall, the season didn’t start so hot for him, but he’s got everyone’s confidence up around him at the moment. We can rely on that more than can we can on anything Chicago-related right now.