Prediction: Ottawa Senators VS Minnesota Wild 2025-12-13
Minnesota Wild vs. Ottawa Senators: A Hockey Showdown with Russian Twists
The Minnesota Wild (-1.5, 1.77-1.89) host the Ottawa Senators (even money, 1.95-2.05) on December 13, 2025, in a clash of Central Division contenders. Let’s break this down with the precision of a Zamboni and the humor of a penguin in a blazer.
Parsing the Odds: A Tale of Two Teams
The bookmakers are giving Minnesota a slight edge, with implied probabilities of 53-56% for the Wild and 49-51% for Ottawa. That’s like betting on a snowplow in a blizzard versus a speed skater on a frozen pond—both can win, but one’s more likely to crash.
The spread favors Minnesota by 1.5 goals, priced at 2.95-3.15 (implied ~25-27% chance to cover), while Ottawa’s +1.5 line sits at 1.38-1.40 (implied ~71-73%). If you’re into spreads, it’s a “buy the underdog” scenario, because who doesn’t want to root for the team giving 1.5 goals?
Totals are set at 5.5 goals, with the Under slightly favored (1.85-1.97, implying ~51-55% chance). That’s odd for a game where both teams scored 5+ goals in their last matches. Maybe the bookmakers assume these teams will suddenly develop a passion for penalty kills and faceoffs.
Digesting the News: Russian Players, Back-to-Back Games, and Momentum
Minnesota Wild:
- The Wild just handed Dallas a 5-2 loss, with Russian stars Kirill Kaprizov (1 assist) and Vladimir Tarasenko (2 assists) leading the charge. Kaprizov has points in three straight games (33 total this season), while Tarasenko is quietly becoming the NHL’s best-kept secret (11 points in 23 games).
- Minnesota’s defense? They held Dallas to 2 goals, which is about as impressive as holding back a toddler with a snowball. Still, consistency is key, and the Wild are third in the Central Division with 39 points.
Ottawa Senators:
- The Senators just snapped a three-game losing streak with a 6-3 thrashing of Columbus, scoring goals like they’re at a clearance sale. David Perron, Drake Batherson, and Tim Stützle (2 goals) led the charge, while Russian defenseman Artem Zub added an assist.
- Ottawa’s defense? Let’s just say they’re the NHL’s version of a sieve with a coupon for “Buy One, Block One.” They gave up 6 goals to Columbus, which is one fewer than the number of times a penguin has won the World Cup.
Both teams are playing on back-to-back days, which is hockey’s version of asking a vampire to do a midnight jog. Fatigue could be a factor, but Minnesota’s home-ice advantage (they just played at home against Dallas) might give them an edge.
Humorous Spin: Penguins, Sieves, and Zambonis
Minnesota’s Russian duo, Kaprizov and Tarasenko, are like hockey’s answer to a power couple—except instead of romantic gestures, they pass the puck with surgical precision. Ottawa’s defense, meanwhile, is a work of art: a modernist masterpiece of chaos that would make Picasso weep.
The total goals line of 5.5 is a joke. Both teams have combined for 13 goals in their last two games. If I were a bookmaker, I’d set the total at “Over 0.5” and call it a day.
Prediction: Wild Cards and Sensational Underdogs
Minnesota’s depth scoring, fresh off a win, and a defense that’s less “fortress” and more “porous but functional” gives them the edge. Ottawa’s offense is electric, but their defense is a sieve that leaks goals like a melted ice cream cone in July.
Final Verdict: Bet on the Minnesota Wild (-1.5) to win and cover the spread. If you’re feeling spicy, take the Under 5.5 goals—but only if you believe Ottawa’s defense will finally learn how to block a shot.
As the great hockey philosopher Wayne Gretzky once said, “Skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it’s been.” In this case, the puck is heading to Minnesota’s net. Unless Ottawa’s offense decides to stage a comeback, which would be as surprising as a Zamboni racing a cheetah.
Go Wild. Literally. �🥅
Created: Dec. 12, 2025, 9:13 p.m. GMT