NHL Predictions: Can Wild Spoil the Wings’ New Arena Opening? 10/5/17

Posted on October 5, 2017

It’s an awkward night for Detroit Red Wings fans as they introduce their new Little Caesar’s Arena – a place that will become home ice after historic Joe Louis Arena had done so since 1979. After missing the playoffs last year for the first time in 25 years, perhaps a freshness is needed. The Minnesota Wild look to ruin the epic night in the NHL predictions Wild at Red Wings.

Odds

Detroit will be home ice dogs in their very first face-off at their new stomping grounds. Oddsmakers have set Minnesota at -140 on the road in the season opener. A wager on the Red Wings cashing in on the excitement of the night pays back +120. The ‘over’ of the total 5.5 could be a strong play too. Last night 3 of 4 opening night games went ‘over’ their total – a sign of early season sloppiness on defense perhaps?

Wild

The Wild made the postseason for the fifth straight year last season and feature a talented core mix of youth and experience. Mikael Granlund is poised for a breakout year and players like Nino Niederreiter and Charlie Coyle are coming into their prime. This youth movement offsets the aging veterans such as Eric Staal, Mikko Koivu, and Ryan Suter – who all still have something left in the tank. Jason Zucker, Suter, and Jared Spurgeon were the top three +/- players in the NHL last year. Goaltender Devan Dubnyk was 4th in wins (40) and 7th in goals against average (2.25) which makes you wonder how Minnesota was unable to make a deep playoff run.

Red Wings

The Red Wings only offseason addition was bringing in Trevor Daley from the Pittsburgh Penguins so they’ll rely on aging veterans such as 36-year-old Henrik Zetterberg and 33-year-old Frans Nielsen for 2017 success before the franchise keys can be handed over to youngsters that include 21-year-old Dylan Larkin. For the NHL predictions Wild at Red Wings, Detroit will be without Andreas Athanasiou, a talented young prospect who is holding out for a new contract and may leave the NHL altogether to go play in the KHL. The Wings offense could use him as they ranked 5th worst in goals for per game, and 6th worst in shots per game last season. If goaltender Jimmy Howard can stay healthy it could help offset the offensive woes (his .927 save percentage was a career high) but he’s 32 and has battled nagging injuries for years.

NHL Predictions Wild at Red Wings

Minnesota is the better team in this matchup – there are very few that would debate this fact. Even going on the road isn’t that big of a factor as last night 3 of the 4 opening night winners were the away teams. You could make Detroit +120 the play, simply based on the fact that they’re opening up a new stadium, have a healthy goalie, and their aging stars should be fresh in the opener. That being said, for the NHL predictions Wild at Red Wings, Minnesota has too much value to pass up.