The Minnesota Wild (31-19-4) welcome the Carolina Hurricanes (32-18-4) to the Xcel Energy Center for what promises to be an intriguing cross-conference matchup between two playoff contenders experiencing recent struggles.
Both teams enter Thursday's contest looking to snap two-game losing streaks, with the Wild's offense particularly cold after being shut out in their previous two outings.
The Hurricanes bring their potent offense averaging 3.26 goals per game, led by the dynamic duo of Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis who have combined for 37 goals and 54 assists this season.
Minnesota's defensive prowess has been their saving grace, with goaltender Filip Gustavsson posting impressive numbers including a .913 save percentage and 11.6 goals saved above average.
The contrast in styles between Carolina's high-powered offense and Minnesota's stalwart defense sets the stage for a compelling tactical battle.
As these teams face off in Saint Paul, both will be eager to prove they can overcome their recent setbacks and return to the winning form that has kept them in playoff position throughout the season.
Minnesota Wild vs. Carolina Hurricanes: who will win?
For tonight's Minnesota Wild vs Carolina Hurricanes matchup, our predictive model gives the Hurricanes a 56% chance of defeating the Wild.
Carolina Hurricanes: 56% win probability
- Superior goal-scoring ability (176 goals for vs Wild's 155)
- Better overall record (32 wins in 54 games vs Wild's 31 in 54)
- Higher conference standing (2nd in East vs Wild's 5th in West)
Minnesota Wild: 44% win probability
- Lower scoring efficiency (155 goals in 54 games)
- Even goal differential (155 GF, 155 GA showing defensive inconsistency)
- Recent form concerns (LLWWW showing volatility)
At Sporting Post, our unique prediction model combines insights from top NHL experts. Instead of sifting through hundreds of expert analyses across the web, you can rely on our predictions to understand the market's overall sentiment. We scan trusted sources, analyzing predictions, data, and opinions, and our AI assigns a confidence level to each prediction. We then average these levels to produce an 'expert opinion' win probability—reflecting the collective intelligence of the industry's leading NHL experts.
Minnesota Wild vs. Carolina Hurricanes odds
| Minnesota Wild | Carolina Hurricanes | |
|---|---|---|
| moneyline | +140 (via Caesars Sportsbook) | -160 (via BetMGM Sportsbook) |
Key stats
- 1The Minnesota Wild have won 31 out of 54 matches this season.
- 2The Carolina Hurricanes have won 32 out of 54 matches this season.
- 3With 66 points, the Minnesota Wild holds the 5th position in the league standings.
- 4Carolina Hurricanes's 68 points place them 2nd in the rankings.
Minnesota Wild vs. Carolina Hurricanes form
Minnesota Wild vs. Carolina Hurricanes head to head
Minnesota Wild
67%
Carolina Hurricanes
33%
Jan 5, 2025
Carolina Hurricanes
0 : 4
Minnesota Wild
Feb 28, 2024
Minnesota Wild
2 : 3
Carolina Hurricanes
Jan 21, 2024
Carolina Hurricanes
2 : 5
Minnesota Wild
Jan 20, 2023
Carolina Hurricanes
5 : 2
Minnesota Wild
Nov 20, 2022
Minnesota Wild
2 : 1
Carolina Hurricanes
Apr 2, 2022
Carolina Hurricanes
1 : 3
Minnesota Wild
