Minnesota Wild See Central Division Odds Improve From +5300 to +2200 During 7-0-3 Run

• The Minnesota Wild are 7-0-3 in their last 10 entering Thursday and sit fifth in the Central
  
• While they’re just six points out of second, they trail St. Louis by 12
  
• Can the Wild continue their hot play and win the Central Division?

At the beginning of the season, the Minnesota Wild were looking up at plenty of teams in the Central Division. There was the Stanley Cup champion Blues, the supremely talented Avalanche, and perennial contenders in the Jets and Predators.

But after picking up points in 10 straight, including seven wins, the Wild find themselves on the cusp of a top-three spot in the division.

Should they be shooting even higher and eyeing top spot? Their latest Central Division-title odds suggest it’s not nearly as far fetched as it used to be.

2019/20 Central Division Odds

Odds taken December 5

The Wild have undoubtedly seen the biggest improvement in the Central. At their lowest point (November 14) Minnesota was listed at +11700. Since then, they’ve gone up to +5300 on November 21st, and then to +2200 on December 5th.

The Avs and Blues have remained neck-and-neck in the odds. But with the Preds slipping from +260 in mid-November to +760, there’s definitely a soft spot the Wild can capitalize on.

What’s Different for Minnesota?

In the last ten games, there have been plenty of standout performers for the Wild. But they wouldn’t be here without Kevin Fiala, Mats Zuccarello, and Zach Parise.

Fiala, Zuccarello, Parise Last 10 Games

This hot streak may be most important for Parise. In the 18 games before, he managed just six points and was a minus-12.

7th goal in last 8 games for Zach Parise. 11th of the season. 🤷🏽‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/CY4pfqmR7R

— Vinnie Parise (@VinnieParise) November 29, 2019

How bad is that? Well he went from a 27-point pace over an 82-game season to a 50-point pace. Still not great, but if Parise keeps it up and can match last year’s 61, it could mean more wins for the Wild.

Wild Have Had to Lean on Stalock

Alex Stalock has never had to play more than 30 games in any of his eight previous NHL seasons. If the career backup can maintain his current numbers, the Wild won’t be disappointed to see that streak end.

2019/20 Season: Alex Stalock vs Devan Dubnyk

Despite his struggles this season, Devan Dubnyk actually started the hot streak with a 3-2 win over the Coyotes. Since then, he’s just played one game due to personal reasons.

Stalock and rookie Kaapo Kahkonen have shouldered the load. Kahkonen has won both of his decisions, allowing two goals and making at least 32 saves in each.

3-on-no, courtesy of Alex Stalock (@Stalock32). 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/Yr5rIDiELS

— NHL (@NHL) November 24, 2019

For Stalock, he’s 4-0-2 and allowed more than two goals just twice. Both of those were losses.

With Dubnyk away from the team due to serious medical issues with his wife, the Wild will soon find out if what they’ve found between the pipes is for real.

Can the Minnesota Wild win the Central Division?

Unfortunately for Minny, winning the division may be too tall of a task. The majority of this run has been against the Eastern Conference, with the Bruins and Panthers as the most formidable foes.

While the streak has contained wins against the Avalanche and Stars, both were one-goal wins. The margin for error is slim.

Minnesota has five combined games against the Avs and Blues remaining. While they have two games at hand over St. Louis, it’s simply too big of a gap to close on a Stanley Cup-caliber team.

At this point, the Avs are the best bet thanks to having three games in hand and four games remaining against St. Louis.

The Pick: Colorado Avalanche (+225)