Bruins vs. Wild: The best player prop bets for March 16

The Boston Bruins will try to continue their winning ways when they tackle the slumping Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center on Wednesday night.

Boston is 10-1-1 over its last 12 games – which includes a 2-1 overtime victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday night – while Minnesota is 3-8-1 in a similar stretch.

Let’s take a long look at the vast player props market and make our top three selections.

Boston Bruins (37-18-5) at Minnesota Wild (34-20-4), 7:30 p.m. ET, TNT

Patrice Bergeron Over/Under 3.5 shots on goal

Patrice Bergeron has been shooting the puck at a feverish rate of late, and there’s no signs of him slowing down. Over bettors should cash in this market on Wednesday night.

Bergeron is second only to David Pastrnak in total shots amongst Bruins skaters this season (223), and is averaging just under four per game. He has registered no fewer than six shots on goal in each of his last three tilts, and has averaged 4.64 shots per game since the All-Star break, a 14-game sample size.

The Wild are 12th-worst in the NHL in opponent shots per game, so Bergeron should get to the four-shot threshold rather easily.

NHL pick: Over (-134)

Kirill Kaprizov goal scorer

Kirill Kaprizov scored one of his 30 goals on the season when he battled the Bruins in Boston on Jan. 6, and should replicate the feat at home on Wednesday night.

Kaprizov has been a better skater at home than on the road this year, scoring 15 goals in 24 games, compared to 15 goals over 33 games away from Minnesota. He’s also had a hot stick of late, scoring six goals through eight games in March.

The Wild star will most likely be taking his shots against goaltender Jeremy Swayman, who has looked human through four starts this month (2.69 GAA, .904 save %) after a sensational February.

NHL pick: Kaprizov anytime goal (+150)

Kevin Fiala to score at least one point

Consistent and talented Minnesota forward Kevin Fiala is being significantly undervalued in the player points market in this spot.

Fiala has scored at least one point in seven straight games for the Wild, and has a point or more in 11 of his last 12 contests. Taking him at +200 to score a goal in this one is tempting, but the safer bet is to back Fiala to grab a point in any fashion.

NHL pick: Yes (-162)