Minnesota Wild (21-23-5) vs. Chicago Blackhawks (14-34-2)
Minnesota Wild vs. Chicago Blackhawks 2/7/24 – The struggling Minnesota Wild will visit the rebuilding Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night for an interdivision NHL matchup. Despite having a better overall record, the Wild have been trending downward, losing three of their last five contests. Meanwhile, the Blackhawks have shown some fight lately, winning two of their previous five. This could be a closer matchup than the teams’ disparate records suggest. Read on for a full analysis featuring top-rated sports picks.
Minnesota Wild have displayed inconsistent offensive prowess this season. Led by Kirill Kaprizov who has amassed 45 points off 19 goals and 26 assists, Joel Eriksson Ek contributed 39 points as Minnesota mounted an attack to test Chicago Blackhawks defensive unit. Kirill Kaprizov’s sharpshooting has given Minnesota hope of turning their season around, though their effectiveness will be put through rigorous tests against an opponent that despite defensive shortcomings has shown resilience at times.
Conversely, the Chicago Blackhawks led by Connor Bedard and Jason Dickinson have struggled to find their rhythm this season. Although Bedard has scored 33 points thus far and Dickinson added 25 to their totals; their combined minus ratings indicate defensive vulnerabilities but their offensive contributions signal potential threats against Minnesota Wild’s defense. If they hope to overcome Filip Gustavsson in goal for Minnesota they must utilize their offensive capabilities against his goaltending for success or risk losing this matchup.
Minnesota Wild vs. Chicago Blackhawks 2/7/24 Game Info
| When: | Wednesday, February 7, 2024, at 9:30 PM ET |
| Where: | United Center |
| TV: | TNT |
| Stream: | NHL.TV |
Goaltender Filip Gustavsson vs. Goaltender Petr Mrazek
Filip Gustavsson enters this contest with a 13-13-2 record along with a 3.28 GAA and .896 save percentage across 29 games played this season. He has faced 845 shots against, allowing 88 goals. In shootouts, Gustavsson has stopped 8 of 10 attempts for an 80% save rate. He has shown glimpses of strong play but lacks consistency game to game. If he can put together one of his better performances, Gustavsson could frustrate the Blackhawks offense.
Petr Mrazek has played 34 games for the Blackhawks this year, garnering a record of 12-19-1 with a 2.92 GAA and .910 save percentage. In nearly 1912 minutes on the ice, he has turned away 941 of the 1034 shots faced. Mrazek has also saved 89% (8 of 9) of shootout attempts against him. Similar to Gustavsson, Mrazek has struggled with reliability this season. But if he finds his groove, his talent gives Chicago a good chance to win. The Wild present a tough test, though, even if their offense has declined of late.
NHL Odds/Point Spread: TBD, Total Odds: TBD
The betting odds for this game are yet to be determined, reflecting the unpredictable nature of this matchup. Bettors will need to closely monitor the lines as they become available, considering both teams’ recent forms and head-to-head history.
Minnesota Wild Betting Trends
The Wild have posted a disappointing 1-3 SU record over their past five contests, while going an even 2-2 ATS over that span. However, Minnesota has been strong against the number away from home, covering 59% of the time on the road. The trends also suggest this projects as a high-scoring matchup, as totals have gone over in 44% of the Wild’s last 25 road games.
Chicago Blackhawks Betting Trends
The Blackhawks enter this contest with a 2-3 SU and ATS record over their previous five outings. Chicago has struggled against the number on home ice, covering just 29% of their games at United Center. However, totals have exceeded the number in a solid 41% of the Blackhawks’ last 22 home contests, pointing to goals in this matchup.
Minnesota Wild vs. Chicago Blackhawks 2/7/24 Betting Picks
Given the trends and performances of both teams, this match provides bettors with a challenging yet intriguing bet opportunity. Minnesota Wild’s offensive prowess led by Kaprizov and Eriksson Ek combined with Chicago Blackhawks defensive struggles led by goaltender Mrazek could tilt this match in Minnesota’s favor should they exploit opportunities.
Blackhawks players have proven resilient, and if Bedard and Dickinson can capitalize on their opportunities they could pose a significant threat to Chicago. Gustavsson vs Mrazek in goal will be especially important, each having the power to shift momentum in either team’s favor.
Bettors looking for value should seek value with the Wild covering the spread, leaning towards an OVER, given both teams’ offensive potential. With this prediction in mind, bettors should monitor final betting lines closely as well as utilize no-cost NHL daily predictions for more timely insights.
Free Pick and Prediction: Minnesota Wild 4, Chicago Blackhawks 2.