Two of the league’s most penalized teams are set to square off at Honda Center on Wednesday, as the Minnesota Wild (-290) head to take on the Anaheim Ducks (+235). The total is 6.5 (O: +100, U: -120)Minnesota (18-11-2) is coming off a 4-2 win over the Senators on Sunday, their fifth win in a row.
Four players found the net for the Wild. Kirill Kaprizov scored and provided two assists to lead the team in scoring. Filip Gustavsson saved an impressive 26 of 28 shots (.928%) in the win.
Anaheim (9-21-3) is back home for a 10-game homestand with the second of a back-to-back after suffering a 4-1 loss against the Kings yesterday. Frank Vatrano was the only player to score for the Ducks. Lukas Dostal only had 37 saves on 41 shots against (.902%) in the loss.
HEAD TO HEAD
The Wild have won both games between the teams this season, including a 5-4 (SO) victory in their most recent meeting on December 3, their 12th straight win against Anaheim. Joel Eriksson Ek and Calen Addison each had two points (1G 1A) to lead Minnesota.
Troy Terry (1G 1A), Trevor Zegras (1G 1A), and Mason McTavish (0G 2A) each had two points to lead Anaheim. Gustavsson got the win despite allowing four goals on 33 shots (.878%).
FACING OFF
Minnesota is averaging 3.13 goals per game for the season, 17th in the NHL, and they are taking on a Ducks team that is allowing 4.15 goals a game (32nd). Meanwhile, Anaheim has found the net 2.36 times a game on average, 31st in the league, and the Wild are allowing opponents to score 2.84 goals per game (11th).
Look for several power play opportunities between the teams, as the Wild and Ducks have more penalties per game than most teams in the NHL. The Wild are averaging 4.77 penalties/game, third-most in the league, while the Ducks have been penalized 4.97 times a game on average (31st).
The Ducks’ 16.13% power play percentage is the fifth-worst in the league, while the Wild rank ninth with a conversion rate of 25.00%. Anaheim has been equally poor at penalty killing, as the hosts possess the league’s second-lowest PK% at 67.77%. Minnesota’s 80.19% ranks 13th in the NHL.
TOP PERFORMERS:
With 42 points this season, seventh-most in the NHL, Kaprizov is the top skater for the Wild. He is among the league leaders with 19 goals (9th) and has added 23 assists.
In the net, Gustavsson (7-4-1) is Minnesota’s top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 2.30 GAA, fourth-best in the league, and a .922% save percentage.
Marc-Andre Fleury (11-7-1) leads the Wild in games played in goal. He has a GAA of 2.94 and a save percentage of .899%.Terry leads the Ducks in scoring with 28 points.
He has 12 goals and 16 assists. John Gibson (5-14-3) has the best goals against average for Anaheim at 3.99. He has a save percentage of .896%.
HOME AND AWAY
Minnesota is 7-5-1 on the road this season. Anaheim is 5-7-0 at Honda Center this season. Meanwhile, the Ducks are 0-4 without a day off and 0-3 playing with a rest disadvantage. The Wild are 4-0 with a rest advantage.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
Minnesota Wild -1.5 (-120)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
