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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Face-off: 1900 ET, 01/01/2022
Arena: Target Field
The top two teams in the Central Division will come face to face in the cold of St Paul at Target Field when Minnesota entertain St Louis.
The NHL Winter Classic is always a New Year’s Day showpiece at a baseball stadium and the Minnesota Twins play host this year.
Home ice may still be the decisive factor here and we think the Wild will edge it at 1.75 on the money line to move to the top of the standings.
Minnesota’s mood was boosted this week with the news head coach Dean Evason and his entire backroom staff have signed new long-term contract extensions.
“It was very important to me personally and obviously important to the organisation to have us all done at the same time,” Evason said.
“We talk all the time about our team on the ice being team-first mentality and it’s no different in the coaches’ room. We’re team-first and it’s a group effort.”
This will be the Wild’s first game in the Winter Classic while it is the second for the Blues, who beat Chicago Blackhawks 4-1 in 2017.
Minnesota will be without Joel Eriksson Ek and Jared Spurgeon, which will be a blow, but they should have enough left to start strong and score the first goal of the game at 1.78.
Defence is a strong point of both teams and will be on display here, though, so 3.6 for the Wild to win with under 5.5 total goals scored offers value from the NHL Winter Classic odds.
Cam Talbot should get the start in goal for the Wild, who have been good on home ice this season with a record of 10-2-1.
St Louis returned to action with a 4-2 win over Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday and saw Jordan Kyrou back in the line-up with a goal and two assists.
Vladimir Tarasenko posted the same tally and was happy with the team spirit following an extended Christmas break.
“We had some time to rest and I know a lot of guys spent it with their families,” he said. “It gives you more positive emotions.”
The Blues have not lost the second period in 10 of their last 11 games and it could be worth a saver to back them to come out on top in the middle frame here.
That is available at 2.8 and is added to our Minnesota Wild vs St Louis Blues predictions.
It would be no surprise to see this end up a close contest but Minnesota just get the nod to oblige 3-2 at 11.0 in our NHL Winter Classic picks.
Additional stats
Last result:
Dallas 7-4 MINNESOTA
ST LOUIS 4-2 Edmonton
Head-to-head: Minnesota 4-3 St Louis, St Louis 6-2 Minnesota, St Louis 7-3 Minnesota, St Louis 4-0 Minnesota
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