Free NHL Picks Today: Dallas Stars vs Minnesota Wild 2/8/23

The Dallas Stars (29-13-10) play host to the Minnesota Wild (27-18-4) at American Airlines Center on Wednesday. Minnesota is coming off a 3-2 loss against the Coyotes on Monday, their fourth straight defeat away from home. The Wild committed six penalties in the game, conceding one power play goal.

Kirill Kaprizov and Jonas Brodin both scored once for the Wild. Marc-Andre Fleury saved 33 of 36 shots in the loss. Dallas beat the Ducks 3-2 (SO) on Monday. Roope Hintz and Nils Lundkvist each scored once for the Stars. Jake Oettinger was impressive in the win, making 32 saves (.941%).

HEAD TO HEAD

The teams have split their two meetings this season, the most recent of which was a 4-1 victory for the Stars in December. Tyler Seguin (2G 0A) and Wyatt Johnston (1G 1A) each had two points to lead Dallas. Kaprizov scored Minnesota’s only goal. Oettinger got the win, saving 23 of 24 shots (.958%).

FACING OFF

Minnesota is averaging 3.04 goals per game for the season, 21st in the NHL, and they are taking on a Stars team that is allowing just 2.56 goals a game (2nd).

Meanwhile, Dallas has found the net 3.35 times a game on average, ninth in the league, and the Wild are allowing opponents to score 2.84 goals per game (11th).

Don’t be surprised to see a few power play opportunities for the Stars, as the Wild are averaging 4.61 penalties per game, second-most in the NHL. The visitors’ 12.18 penalty minutes a game ranks third-highest. The home team has been penalized 3.85 times a game (15th) for an average of 9.08 minutes (14th).

The Stars’ 25.00% power play percentage ranks sixth in the league, while the Wild are 10th with a conversion rate of 23.72%. Dallas has been more impressive at penalty killing, boasting the league’s second-highest PK% at 83.91%. Minnesota ranks 16th at 79.76%.

TOP PERFORMERS:

With 60 points this season, Kaprizov is the top skater for the Wild. He has 28 goals and 32 assists in 49 games. In the net, Filip Gustavsson (11-7-1) is Minnesota’s top goaltender by goals against average.

He has a 2.26 GAA, third-best in the league, and a .922% save percentage, fifth-best. Fleury (16-10-3) leads the Wild in games played in goal. He has a GAA of 2.87 and a save percentage of .905%.

Jason Robertson leads the Stars in scoring with 67 points (6th in the league). He has 33 goals (5th in the league) and 34 assists. Oettinger (21-7-7) has the best goals against average for Dallas at 2.26, second-best in the league. He has a save percentage of .923%, third-best.