Wild vs. Capitals NHL Predictions, Picks and Odds - Dec. 16

The Minnesota Wild (19-9-5) will host the Washington Capitals (18-10-4) on Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET, in a game featuring one of the top four squads from the Western and Eastern Conferences, respectively. The Capitals are small underdogs, at -105, and the Wild are -115.

Minnesota won 6-2 at home its last time out on Dec. 14 against the Boston Bruins. The Wild were led by Ryan Hartman (one goal and two assists) and Kirill Kaprizov (two goals and one assist).

Washington lost 5-1 on the road against the Winnipeg Jets in its most recent game on Dec. 13. Three Capitals players recorded one point each in that outing, including Jakob Chychrun (one goal) and Alexander Ovechkin (one assist).

Before watching this matchup, here's a glimpse at which team we think will emerge with the victory in Tuesday's action on the ice.

Wild vs. Capitals Predictions & Pick

For the upcoming contest between the Minnesota Wild and Washington Capitals, computer-calculated moneyline, over/under, and score predictions are below, per Dunkel Index.

• Prediction: Wild 5 - Capitals 2
• Pick OU: Over 5.5 (Dunkel projecting 7.00 goals)
  

Pick with the best in the business! Get free picks for every game, every week at the Dunkel Index.

Wild vs. Capitals Moneylines

Snag a peek below at the latest moneylines for the Wild-Capitals matchup.

• Favorite: Wild (-115)
• Underdog: Capitals (-105)

Wild Betting Insights

• In the 16 times this season the Wild have been favored on the moneyline, they have gone 8-8 in those games.
• Minnesota is 8-8 (victorious in 50.0% of its games) when it has played with moneyline odds of -115 or shorter.
• The Wild have a 53.5% chance (based on the moneyline's implied probability) to win this matchup.
• Minnesota and its opponent have gone over 5.5 combined goals in 15 of 33 games this season.

Capitals Betting Insights

• The Capitals have won three of the eight games they have played while the underdog this season.
• Washington has entered eight games this season as the underdog by -105 or more and is 3-5 in those contests.
• The bookmakers' moneyline implies a 51.2% chance of victory for the Capitals.
• Washington's games this season have had more than 5.5 goals 18 of 32 times.

Wild Key Stats

• Minnesota's 96 total goals (2.9 per game) make it the 18th-ranked scoring team in the league.
• The Wild have given up 86 total goals (2.6 per game), the fourth-fewest in NHL play.
• Its goal differential (+10) makes the team sixth-best in the league.
• The 26 power-play goals the Wild have put up this season (on 113 power-play chances) are the third-most in the NHL.
• Minnesota's 23.01% power-play conversion rate is the eighth-best in the league.
• The two shorthanded goals the Wild have scored this season rank 13th among NHL squads.
• Minnesota kills 78.48% of opponent power plays, the 22nd-ranked penalty-kill percentage in the league.
• Minnesota wins 47% of its faceoffs (27th in NHL).
• The Wild have a 10.4% shooting percentage as a team, which ranks 20th in the league.

Capitals Key Stats

• Washington's 106 goals on the season (3.3 per game) rank sixth in the league.
• The Capitals allow only 2.5 goals per game (79 in total), the second-fewest in the league.
• Its +27 goal differential is the second-best in the league.
• The Capitals have 15 power-play goals (24th in NHL) on 94 chances.
• Washington scores on 15.96% of its power plays, No. 26 in the NHL.
• This season, the Capitals have one shorthanded goal (22nd in league).
• At 75.51%, Washington has the 28th-ranked penalty-kill percentage in the league.
• Washington is 23rd in faceoff win rate in the NHL (48%).
• The Capitals' 11.3% shooting percentage is ninth in the league.