The Chicago Blackhawks (24-41-6) will be hoping to end their losing streak when they travel to face the Minnesota Wild (41-22-9) at Xcel Energy Center on Saturday. Chicago is playing their last of five games on the road coming off a 6-1 loss against the Capitals on Thursday, their third straight defeat.
The Blackhawks committed four penalties in the game, conceding two power play goals. Nikita Zaitsev was the only player to find the net in regulation for the Blackhawks. Anton Khudobin only had 22 saves on 28 shots against (.785%) in the loss.
Minnesota fell 5-4 (SO) to the Flyers on Thursday. Matt Boldy was the leading goal scorer for the Wild, netting twice. Marc-Andre Fleury only had 30 saves on 34 shots against (.882%) in the loss.
HEAD TO HEAD
The Wild have won both games between the teams this season, including a 4-1 victory in their most recent meeting in December, their seventh straight win against Chicago.
Mats Zuccarello led Minnesota with four points (3G 1A). Jonathan Toews scored Chicago’s only goal. Fleury got the win, saving 29 of 30 shots (.966%).
FACING OFF
Chicago is averaging just 2.45 goals per game for the season, worst in the NHL. The visitors will face a tough test against a Wild team that is allowing only 2.67 goals a game (4th).
Meanwhile, Minnesota has found the net 2.90 times a game on average, 23rd in the league, and the Blackhawks are allowing opponents to score 3.56 goals per game (25th). Chicago averages fewer shots per game (26.7) than any other team in the league, while the team’s 9.3% shooting percentage is 28th.
Minnesota has proven to be one of the league’s best shot-stopping teams, ranking No. 3 with a team save percentage of .918%.The Blackhawks’ 16.11% power play percentage is the fourth-lowest in the league, while the Wild rank 13th with a conversion rate of 21.97%. When it comes to penalty killing, Minnesota has the league’s 14th-ranked PK% at 80.18%, while Chicago is 23rd at 76.10%.
TOP PERFORMERS:
Max Domi and Patrick Kane have been the top skaters for the Blackhawks this season with 49 and 45 points. In the net, Petr Mrazek (8-19-3) is Chicago’s top goaltender. He has a 3.63 GAA and a .895% save percentage. Kirill Kaprizov leads the Wild in scoring with 74 points. He has 39 goals (9th) and 35 assists in 65 games.
Filip Gustavsson (18-9-5) has the best goals against average for Minnesota at 2.04, second-best in the league. He has a save percentage of .932%, also second-best. Fleury (23-13-4) has played the most games in net for the Wild this season. He has a 2.85 GAA and a .907% save percentage.
HOME AND AWAY
Chicago has dropped three straight on the road this season. Minnesota is 22-11-3 at Xcel Energy Center this season.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
Minnesota Wild -1.5 (-135)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
