The Minnesota Wild (7-8-2) will be out to halt their losing streak when they welcome the Carolina Hurricanes (10-5-2) at Xcel Energy Center on Saturday. Carolina is coming off a 3-2 overtime loss against the Avalanche on Thursday. The Hurricanes committed four penalties in the game, conceding one power play goal.
Martin Necas and Sebastian Aho both scored once for the Hurricanes. Necas added an assist to lead the team in scoring. Antti Raanta only had 12 saves on 15 shots against (.800%) in the loss. Minnesota lost for the third game in a row, falling 6-4 to the Penguins on Thursday. Joel Eriksson Ek was the leading goal scorer for the Wild, netting twice. Filip Gustavsson saved only 26 of 31 shots against (.838%) in the loss.
HEAD TO HEAD
The Wild won both games between the teams last season, including a 3-1 victory in their final meeting in April. Mats Zuccarello and Kirill Kaprizov each had two points (1G 1A) to lead Minnesota. Teuvo Teravainen scored Carolina’s only goal. Marc-Andre Fleury got the win, saving 37 of 38 shots (.973%).
FACING OFF
Carolina is averaging 2.94 goals per game for the season, 21st in the NHL, and they are taking on a Wild team that is allowing 3.06 goals a game (12th). Meanwhile, Minnesota has found the net 2.71 times a game on average, 26th in the league, and the Hurricanes are allowing opponents to score 2.71 goals per game (7th).
Carolina averages more shots (36.5) than most teams in the league, ranking third, though the team’s 8.4% shooting percentage is 30th. Minnesota’s average of 31.2 attempts ranks 16th.
Expect several power play opportunities for the Hurricanes, as the Wild have been penalized 5.29 times a game, third-most in the NHL, for an average of 14.59 minutes (second-highest).
The visitors are averaging 4.06 penalties (20th) and 8.29 penalty minutes a game (24th). The Hurricanes’ 15.15% power play percentage is the third-lowest in the league, while the Wild rank 15th with a conversion rate of 21.05%.
When it comes to defending power plays, Minnesota has the league’s 14th-ranked PK% at 79.66%, while Carolina is 21st at 77.42%.
TOP PERFORMERS:
With 21 points this season, Necas is the top skater for the Hurricanes. He has eight goals and 13 assists in 17 games. In the net, Raanta (3-2-1) is Carolina’s top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 2.47 GAA and a .911% save percentage. Frederik Andersen (5-3-0) leads the Hurricanes in games played in goal.
He has a GAA of 2.72 and a save percentage of .891%.Kaprizov leads the Wild in scoring with 19 points. He has 10 goals (7th) and nine assists. Fleury (6-4-1) has the best goals against average for Minnesota at 2.80. He has a save percentage of .906%.
HOME AND AWAY
Carolina is 6-3-1 away from PNC Arena this season. Minnesota has won three straight at Xcel Energy Center this season.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
Carolina Hurricanes (-135)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
