MIN vs. EDM Pick: MIN ML

Monday’s under came through, and tonight we’re heading to Edmonton with the Minnesota moneyline at +113. Connor McDavid has been putting up ridiculous numbers, but the Wild arrive with a dangerous scorer of their own and the goalie we’d rather have in this matchup.

Kirill Kaprizov already has 10 goals through nine games, including one in each of his last three. Edmonton will have to account for him every time Minnesota gets the extra skater. The Wild’s power play is converting at 32.1%, while the Oilers have killed just 70.8% of their penalties. A careless stick or a tired reach could get expensive for Edmonton against this group.

Jesper Wallstedt gives Minnesota another reason to like the trip. He brings a .922 save percentage and a 1.99 goals-against average into his ninth appearance, having handled the increased workload with Filip Gustavsson sidelined. Devon Levi has given Edmonton some good starts, but Wallstedt has been the more consistent of tonight’s two goalies. Against an offense this dangerous, that’s an important advantage to have.

Minnesota has also been doing useful work in front of him, averaging 30 shots while allowing roughly 26. The Wild have been creating opportunities without spending the whole evening under siege. Carrying that into Edmonton will be harder with Brock Faber, Jared Spurgeon and Olli Määttä unavailable, putting more responsibility on Quinn Hughes and Jonas Brodin to get the puck moving out of their end.

That’s where this game gets interesting. McDavid can punish a bad exit immediately, but Minnesota has the personnel to make Edmonton defend, too. Kaprizov is finishing, the power play has a favorable matchup, and Wallstedt has been giving the Wild dependable work behind it all.

We like that combination at plus money. Minnesota has enough going for it at both ends to leave Edmonton with the win.

SLS Daily Pick: Minnesota Wild ML (+113). Playable at +105 or better.