Blackhawks vs Wild

Minnesota enters this one 3-2-0 in its last five and off a 4-3 overtime loss to Florida, while Chicago has gone 2-2-1 over its past five but rides a two-game skid after being outscored 7-2 by Tampa Bay and Florida, underscoring the recent form gap between these Central rivals. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nhl/team/schedule/_/name/chi/seasontype/2)) On the health front, the Wild are missing key blueliners Jonas Brodin and Zach Bogosian on injured reserve, but their core forwards and top goalie Filip Gustavsson remain intact; Chicago’s current injury list is limited to contract-cap dumps Ryan Ellis and Shea Weber, leaving its regular rotation largely available despite the heavy recent schedule. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nhl/injuries)) Head-to-head, Kaprizov and Boldy have repeatedly burned the Hawks, combining for three goals and five assists across a 4-3 OT win in Chicago this season and a 4-2 road victory last January, while Bedard has already produced two multi-point efforts against Minnesota, which speaks more to his individual brilliance than to Chicago’s ability to close games against this opponent. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nhl/game/_/gameId/401802721/wild-blackhawks)) With the Wild sitting safely in a divisional playoff slot and chasing home ice while the Blackhawks, at roughly 50 points, are still on the outside of the wild-card race despite their progress, Minnesota has both the talent edge and the urgency to justify the -250 moneyline at home, even if the price is steep and better suited to parlays or larger-bankroll straight plays. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nhl/team/schedule/_/name/min/seasontype/2)) I’m backing Minnesota on the moneyline at -250 with a Grade of A-, recognizing it as a high-likelihood outcome but only moderate monetary value given the low return on risk. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 27/01/2026 11:32

The Wild have been playing a more up-tempo offensive game this season, averaging just over 3.1 goals per contest with a power play north of 22 percent heading into mid-January, while defensive injuries to Brodin and Bogosian thin their ability to suppress chances and tilt this matchup slightly toward higher-event hockey. ([nhl.com](https://www.nhl.com/wild/news/game-preview-vs-new-jersey-devils-011226?utm_source=openai)) Recent results back that up: Minnesota’s last five have landed on totals of 6, 8, 7, 7 and 7 goals (including 6-2 vs Winnipeg and 5-4 OT at Buffalo), and Chicago is fresh off conceding five at home to Florida, after a stretch where its defensive structure has wobbled whenever Spencer Knight doesn’t get a clean, low-danger environment. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nhl/team/schedule/_/name/min/seasontype/2)) Historically this matchup has leaned toward scoring as well, with a 4-3 Wild OT win at United Center in November and a 4-2 Minnesota win last January both cashing at or above this 6-goal number, and Bedard’s shot volume plus Kaprizov/Boldy’s finishing touch give this game multiple paths to late scoring, including empty-net scenarios if Chicago chases from behind. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nhl/game/_/gameId/401802721/wild-blackhawks)) Still, Gustavsson is capable of stealing an under by himself when dialed in, which keeps this from elite status; at -125, you’re risking $125 to win $100 on a bet that I see as slightly better than coin-flip to land 7+ while offering limited price discount versus the market. I’ll play Over 6 at -125 with a Grade of B, leaning into offensive trends and injuries but respecting the goaltending enough to avoid a higher confidence mark. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 27/01/2026 11:32

Given the matchup dynamics, I slightly prefer an aggressive stance on Minnesota’s side of the puckline, asking the Wild to win by at least two at approximately even money, rather than laying the pricey -250 moneyline again. Recent scorelines show that when Minnesota wins, it often does so with margin — 5-2 vs Dallas, Ottawa and Boston, 5-0 vs Washington, and 6-2 vs Winnipeg in the last six weeks — while Chicago’s defensive lapses have produced blowouts like the recent 5-1 home loss to Florida. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nhl/team/schedule/_/name/min/seasontype/2)) Minnesota’s forward depth and top-end talent (Kaprizov, Boldy, Tarasenko, Eriksson Ek) should be able to exploit a young Blackhawks blue line anchored by Artyom Levshunov, Alex Vlasic and Wyatt Kaiser, and although Brodin’s absence makes late-game defending trickier, it can also keep the door open for more Chicago push that in turn increases empty-net equity for a multi-goal Wild victory. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nhl/team/roster/_/name/min/sort/age/minnesota-wild)) From a situational standpoint, the Wild are at home, firmly in a playoff spot and incentivized to bank regulation wins in a tight Central race, while the Blackhawks — 6th in the division and still a few results short of realistic wild-card ground — may tilt the ice late chasing offense, again boosting that second-goal potential. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nhl/team/schedule/_/name/min/seasontype/2)) At -100, the payout (win $100 for every $100 risked) is more attractive than the moneyline but does come with genuine risk given Minnesota’s tendency to let opponents hang around, so I grade Wild -1.5 at B-, a higher-upside but noticeably less certain alternative for bettors comfortable with variance. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 27/01/2026 11:32