Minnesota Wild (28-15-4) vs Utah Hockey Club (20-19-7)
January 23, 2025 at 08:00 PM EST
The Line: Betting Odds: Minnesota Wild -160 / Utah Hockey Club +135 — Over/Under:
The Utah Hockey Club and Minnesota Wild meet Thursday in NHL action at the Xcel Energy Center. Here’s a Utah Hockey Club vs Minnesota Wild Prediction. This article will include a Utah Hockey Club vs Minnesota Wild Pick.
Utah Hockey Club Betting Preview
The Utah Hockey Club beat the Blues and Jets, and they play the Jets, Senators, and Penguins next. The Utah Hockey Club are averaging 2.87 goals per game and is scoring 21.7 percent of their power play opportunities. Dylan Guenther leads Utah with 16 goals, Clayton Keller has 34 assists and Nick Schmaltz has 101 shots on goal. Defensively, the Utah Hockey Club is allowing 2.98 goals per game and is killing 81.5 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Connor Ingram has given up 49 goals on 415 shots faced, while Karel Vejmelka has allowed 69 goals on 764 shots.
Minnesota Wild Betting Preview
The Minnesota Wild lost to the Predators, beat the Avalanche, and they play the Flames, Blackhawks, and Maple Leafs next. The Minnesota Wild are averaging 2.93 goals per game and are scoring 19.7 percent of their power play opportunities. Kirill Kaprizov leads Minnesota with 23 goals, Marco Rossi has 23 assists and Matt Boldy has 164 shots on goal. Defensively, the Minnesota Wild are allowing 2.85 goals per game and are killing 70.8 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Filip Gustavsson has allowed 78 goals on 911 shots faced, and Marc-Andre Fleury has given up 39 goals on 430 shots.
Why the Minnesota Wild will win
- The Wild have won eight of their last nine games as favorites against Western Conference opponents.
- Utah has lost three of its last four games following a win.
- The favorites have covered the puck line in six of the Wild’s last seven games.
Why the Utah Hockey Club will win
- Utah has won three of its last four games as an underdog following a win.
- The Wild have lost five of their last six night games against opponents on a winning streak.
- Utah has covered the puck line in eight of its last nine games as a road underdog.
- The Wild have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last four night games at Xcel Energy Center against opponents on a winning streak.
- Utah has won the third period in nine of its last 11 night games following a win.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Minnesota Wild rank 28th in the league for Period 2 goals scored per game this season (0.85).
- The Minnesota Wild rank 27th in the league for shots against per game this season (29.8).
- Utah Hockey Club rank 3rd in the league for Period 1 goals allowed per game this season (0.63).
- Utah Hockey Club rank T4th in the league in short-handed goals allowed this season (2).
Utah Hockey Club vs Minnesota Wild Injury Report
The Utah Hockey Club will be without Dylan Guenther and Tij Iginla. Mikhail Sergachev is questionable for Utah.
The Minnesota Wild will be without Jonas Brodie, Jared Spurgeon, Kirill Kapizov, Marcus Johansson, and Troy Grosenick.
Utah Hockey Club vs Minnesota Wild Prediction
The Utah Hockey Club have had issues stringing wins together and weren’t able to take full advantage of a long homestand. This will be the first time Utah is on the road in three weeks. The Minnesota Wild have been profitable these last few weeks with wins in six of their last 10 games, and they’ve done a good job this season of winning in their favorite role. While the road team has won the first two games between the Utah Hockey Club and Minnesota Wild, I have to side with the Wild at home and the reasonable price. I need more bang for my buck to give Utah a serious look against above-average teams.