Two of the league’s most penalized teams are set to meet at Xcel Energy Center on Sunday, as the Minnesota Wild (9-9-2) play host to the Arizona Coyotes (7-9-3). Arizona is coming off a 4-3 shootout loss against the Red Wings on Friday. The Coyotes committed six penalties in the game, conceding two power play goals. Nick Schmaltz, Jakob Chychrun, and J.J. Moser scored one apiece for the Coyotes.
Chychrun and Schmaltz both added an assist to lead the team in scoring. Karel Vejmelka saved 33 of 36 shots in the loss.Minnesota fell 4-3 to the Maple Leafs on Friday. Mats Zuccarello, Kirill Kaprizov, and Matt Boldy scored one apiece for the Wild. Marc-Andre Fleury only had 24 saves on 28 shots against (.857%) in the loss.
HEAD TO HEAD
The Wild won two of the three games between the teams last season, although the Coyotes were 5-3 victors in their final meeting in April. Shayne Gostisbehere led Arizona with three points (0G 3A). Joel Eriksson Ek (1G 1A), Marcus Foligno (1G 1A), and Kaprizov (0G 2A) each had two points to lead Minnesota. Vejmelka got the win, saving 35 of 38 shots (.921%).
FACING OFF
Arizona is averaging 2.68 goals per game for the season, 27th in the NHL, and they are taking on a Wild team that is allowing 2.90 goals a game (12th). Meanwhile, Minnesota has found the net 2.85 times a game on average, 23rd in the league, and the Coyotes are allowing opponents to score 3.37 goals per game (21st).
Arizona averages fewer shots a game (24.3) than any other team in the league, though the team’s 11.0% shooting percentage ranks eighth. Minnesota’s average of 31.0 attempts ranks 16th.Power play opportunities during the game are likely to be plentiful, as the Coyotes and Wild have more penalties per game than most teams in the NHL.
The Wild have been penalized 5.05 times a game on average (29th), while the Coyotes are averaging 5.37 penalties, most in the league.The Coyotes’ 23.88% power play percentage ranks 11th in the league, while the Wild are 13th with a conversion rate of 23.08%. When it comes to defending power plays, Minnesota has the league’s ninth-ranked PK% at 81.82%, while Arizona is 14th at 80.25%.
TOP PERFORMERS:
With 20 points this season, Clayton Keller is the top skater for the Coyotes. He has seven goals and 13 assists in 19 games. In the net, Vejmelka (6-5-1) is Arizona’s top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 2.98 GAA and a .916% save percentage. Kaprizov leads the Wild in scoring with 24 points.
He has 12 goals and 12 assists. Filip Gustavsson (3-4-1) has the best goals against average for Minnesota at 2.62. He has a save percentage of .914%. Fleury (6-4-1) has played the most games in net for the Wild this season. He has a 2.80 GAA and a .906% save percentage.
HOME AND AWAY
Arizona is 6-7-2 away from home this season. Minnesota is 4-6-1 at home this season.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
Minnesota Wild -1.5 (-115)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
