The Minnesota Wild welcome the New York Rangers to the Xcel Energy Center on Thursday night in what shapes up to be a compelling clash between two teams heading in opposite directions.
While Minnesota rides the high of their recent 2-1 victory over Colorado and boasts one of the league's stingiest home defenses, the Rangers stumble into town on a four-game skid with their offense managing just eight goals in their last three outings.
The stage is set for an intriguing battle between the defensively sound Wild (2.83 goals against per game) and a Rangers squad desperate to rediscover their scoring touch when the home team hosts the away team at 8 PM ET.
Minnesota Wild vs. New York Rangers prediction: who will win?
For tonight's Minnesota Wild vs New York Rangers matchup, our predictive model gives the Wild a 53% chance of defeating the Rangers.
Minnesota Wild: 53% win probability
- Strong defensive record (186 goals against, 6th best in Western Conference)
- Better league position (6th in West vs Rangers' 10th in East)
- Superior recent form (WLLWW vs Rangers' LLLLW)
New York Rangers: 47% win probability
- Poor road performance (31 losses this season)
- Defensive struggles (199 goals against, worse than league average)
- Recent slump (Lost 4 of last 5 games)
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. New York Rangers odds
Here are the latest odds for the NHL matchup between the New York Rangers and the Minnesota Wild, with the Wild hosting at home on Thursday, March 13.
| Minnesota Wild | New York Rangers | |
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | -110 (via Caesars Sportsbook) | -105 (via bet365 US) |
Minnesota Wild vs. New York Rangers preview
The struggling Rangers roll into the Xcel Energy Center looking to snap an ugly four-game skid that's exposed some serious defensive holes, giving up 13 goals in their last three games.
Minnesota's been rock-solid on home ice lately, surrendering just four goals in their last three games, while their defensive unit ranks 11th league-wide - a stark contrast to New York's 20th-place standing.
Keep your eyes on Rangers' playmaker Artemi Panarin, who's been a bright spot with 68 points this season, though he'll face a tough test against Minnesota's stingy defense.
The Wild's offensive spark could come from Matt Boldy, who's quietly put together an impressive 55-point campaign with 21 goals and 34 assists.
Between the pipes, it's a tale of two very different stories - Wild's Filip Gustavsson boasts a solid .915 save percentage, while Rangers' Igor Shesterkin has struggled to find his rhythm with a .905 mark.
These teams have split their last 10 meetings down the middle, but Minnesota's recent defensive prowess at home gives them a clear edge in this first season matchup.
The Wild's power play might be the x-factor tonight - they're converting at 20% while the Rangers' penalty kill has shown cracks in their armor during this losing streak.
Key stats
- 1Minnesota Wild sits 6th in Western Conference with 78 points while Rangers hold 10th spot in Eastern with 68 points
- 2Wild shows stronger recent form (WLLWW) compared to Rangers' five-game slump (LLLLW)
- 3Minnesota maintains a tight defensive record with 181 goals for and 186 against, while Rangers post 196 goals for and 199 against
- 4Wild holds better points percentage at home with 37 wins in 65 games versus Rangers' 31 wins in 65 games
Minnesota Wild vs. New York Rangers form
Minnesota Wild vs. New York Rangers head to head
Minnesota Wild
50%
New York Rangers
50%
Nov 10, 2023
New York Rangers
4 : 1
Minnesota Wild
Nov 5, 2023
Minnesota Wild
5 : 4
New York Rangers
Jan 11, 2023
New York Rangers
4 : 3
Minnesota Wild
Oct 14, 2022
Minnesota Wild
3 : 7
New York Rangers
Mar 9, 2022
Minnesota Wild
5 : 2
New York Rangers
Jan 29, 2022
New York Rangers
2 : 3
Minnesota Wild
