The NHL preseason is well underway, and fans expect a strong showing from the Chicago Blackhawks as they take on the Minnesota Wild in a chill Tuesday night encounter. This match is on schedule for the 1st of October 2024 and will be played at 8:00 PM ET. It will surely be an explosive encounter at Xcel Energy Center. For fans looking for hockey tips today, this is the perfect match to assess the capability of these teams as they play around with different players and equipment in readiness for the regular season.
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Minnesota Wild 10/1/24 Game Info |
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| When: | Tuesday, October 1, 2024 at 8:00 PM ET |
| Where: | Xcel Energy Center |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
| Stream: | NHL.TV |
Chicago Blackhawks (0-2-1) vs. Minnesota Wild (2-2-0)
The Chicago Blackhawks, despite a shaky start to the preseason, have offensive talents like Connor Bedard, whose scoring ability could pose challenges for defensive lineups akin to the Colorado Avalanche‘s stalwart defense. Bedard, alongside Philipp Kurashev and Nick Foligno, must navigate around Minnesota’s defensive strategies, aiming to improve their goal conversion and overall game impact. Their success in breaching the Wild’s defense could be key to claiming their first preseason win.
Conversely, the Minnesota Wild boast a robust offensive lineup led by Kirill Kaprizov, whose performance might overwhelm defenses comparable to the Philadelphia Flyers. Supported by Matt Boldy and Joel Eriksson Ek, the Wild’s offense is well-equipped to capitalize on the Blackhawks’ defensive shortcomings. Their aggressive play and ability to execute on power plays will be crucial as they aim to dominate possession and control the game’s pace against Chicago.
Goaltender Petr Mrazek vs. Goaltender Filip Gustavsson
Petr Mrazek, the Blackhawks’ goaltender, carries a heavy load as he walks into the game due to last season that saw him garner 31 losses which is rather a tough number for any goaltender. Though it is respectable, Mrazek’s last year’s save percentage of 0.908 will be, all things considered, no match for the Wild’s Kaprizov-led shooting frenzy. Mrazek in the goal will be very important here; shoot-outs and determining when and how to tackle all pressure will be very important for Chicago in the face of Minnesota attacks.
On the other hand, the Wild’s Filip Gustavsson seems to record slightly lower statistics than his counterpart at the Blackhawks, with a save percentage of 0.899. However, as well as his round-the-back experience it will also be fundamental to his 20 victories last season as it would be to combat the Blackhawks penetrating Minnesota’s goal. What will be complicated for Gustavsson is getting inside the Blackhawks’ head as to what kind of offense will they unleash, especially being 0-1 in preseason games.
NHL Odds/Point Spread: TBD, Total Odds: TBD
The betting prospects for this match are still incomplete because of varying reasons like how no clear preseason match has concluded and team strategies are still taking shape. As the date of the game draws near, however, punters may follow these with great interest since the Wild may have the edge as far as property is concerned while the Blackhawks have their heads in the sand.
Chicago Blackhawks Betting Trends
The Blackhawks have been pretty hit or miss at times and have been going OVER on a lot of bets which probably indicates that unless their D steps up, there will be goals in this game. The taxpayers are witnessing some minor trend improvements in bending this line than before but poor conduct on the road last season might catch the attention of bettors who are wondering about their chances against a good home team such as the Wild.
Minnesota Wild Betting Trends
In the last couple of seasons, the Wild has been a very solid team when it comes to covering the scoreboard, especially on the road, which reflects good means of winning games away from home. Their last few games have all gone beyond the total more often than not, a testament to their valuable offense, which would probably be quite overwhelming for the Blackhawks defense, which makes placing a bet on the Wild based on those trends a good idea.
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Minnesota Wild 10/1/24 Betting Picks
Looking at the recent trends and pre-season games, the Wild seem to be a safer choice in this matchup. Their well-balanced offense along with, a sturdy defense, and the fact that the Blackhawks have been all over the place means that Minnesota will have a fair chance of winning. Punters looking for puckline bets should make a consideration of the Wild, especially where the odds are in their favor. For prop bets, players like Kaprizov to score may also be tempting given his ability to shoot Smith if he proceeds to play.
With regard to the over/under bet, the game appears to be going to favor the OVER, taking into consideration the overall performance of both teams in their last games and making allowances for any defensive lapses on the part of the Blackhawks. All in all, since the Wild plays as a team effectively and takes full advantage of playing at home, they will be the top premium picks for this game.