On December 10, 2024, the Minnesota Wild (18-5-4) face off against the Utah Hockey Club (12-11-4) at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. This matchup pits the Western Conference-leading Wild against a Utah team striving to secure a wild card playoff spot. Below is a detailed breakdown of the game, supported by advanced metrics, team trends, and situational factors.
Team Standings and Form
Minnesota Wild
- Record: 18-5-4
- Points: 40 (1st in the Western Conference)
- Goals For/Against: 92 GF / 60 GA (+32 differential)
- Power Play Efficiency: 23.5%
- Penalty Kill Efficiency: 85.0%
Minnesota has been dominant across all facets of play, boasting a league-best save percentage (.931) courtesy of Filip Gustavsson and a strong goal differential. Their 23.5% power play is efficient and matches their consistent puck possession metrics.
Utah Hockey Club
- Record: 12-11-4
- Points: 28 (four points out of a wild card spot)
- Goals For/Against: 75 GF / 81 GA (-6 differential)
- Power Play Efficiency: 19.2%
- Penalty Kill Efficiency: 80.0% (perfect 5-for-5 in last two games)
Utah has shown flashes of potential but struggles with consistency. Their negative goal differential highlights defensive lapses, though their special teams have improved recently.
Advanced Metrics and Key Stats
- Corsi and Fenwick
- Minnesota dominates puck possession with a league-leading Corsi For Percentage (CF%) of 55.3%. Utah lags behind at 49.2%, indicating that Minnesota is likely to control the tempo.
- PDO (Shooting + Save Percentage)
- Minnesota: 1.03 (indicative of sustainable success)
- Utah: 0.98 (slightly underperforming, but not drastically unlucky)
- Faceoff Win Percentage
- Minnesota: 52.1%
- Utah: 48.8%
Faceoff success gives Minnesota an edge in dictating possession and creating scoring chances off set plays.
- Shots on Goal
- Minnesota averages 33.5 shots per game, while Utah manages only 29.0. This disparity could translate to greater offensive pressure from Minnesota.
Home/Away Performance
Minnesota Wild (Road)
- Record: 8-3-2
- Goal Differential: +15
- Minnesota excels on the road, demonstrating the ability to adapt and maintain high performance.
Utah Hockey Club (Home)
- Record: 7-6-1
- Goal Differential: -2
- Utah has been competitive at home but lacks the dominance required against elite opponents like Minnesota.
Key Matchups
- Goaltending Battle
- Filip Gustavsson (Minnesota): .931 save percentage, leading all qualified goaltenders.
- Karel Vejmelka (Utah): While capable, he hasn’t matched Gustavsson’s consistency. Utah’s defense will need to limit high-danger chances to support Vejmelka.
- Special Teams Showdown
- Minnesota’s power play (23.5%) has the upper hand against Utah’s penalty kill (80.0%). Conversely, Utah must capitalize on limited opportunities against Minnesota’s elite penalty kill unit.
- Top Scorers
- Minnesota: Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello lead the charge, combining creativity and finishing ability.
- Utah: Rely on balanced scoring, but lack a true game-changing star to counter Kaprizov.
Coaching and Strategy
Minnesota Wild Head coach Dean Evason has implemented a structured, puck-dominant system that emphasizes quick transitions and disciplined play. Line combinations remain stable, fostering chemistry and reliability.
Utah Hockey Club Utah’s coaching strategy prioritizes grit and defensive responsibility. However, they’ll need to adapt against Minnesota’s speed and skill, perhaps employing more aggressive forechecking to disrupt Minnesota’s rhythm.
Situational Factors
- Rest and Schedule: Both teams are rested with no recent travel fatigue.
- Motivation: Utah’s playoff aspirations add urgency, while Minnesota seeks to consolidate their top position.
- Public Betting Trends: Minnesota (-109) is favored but not heavily, suggesting respect for Utah’s competitiveness at home.
- Line Movement: The total (5.5) reflects a potentially tight, defense-oriented game.
Prediction and Betting Recommendations
Predicted Final Score: Minnesota Wild 4, Utah Hockey Club 2 Confidence Level: High
Recommended Bet:
- Moneyline: Minnesota (-109) offers excellent value given their superior metrics and form.
- Total: Over 5.5. Minnesota’s offensive firepower combined with Utah’s recent improvement suggests a moderate-scoring game.
- Player Prop: Kirill Kaprizov to record over 1.5 points. His playmaking and finishing skills thrive against less structured defenses.
Conclusion
The Minnesota Wild enter this game as deserved favorites, armed with an elite goaltender, potent offense, and disciplined defensive structure. While Utah’s home advantage and recent improvements add intrigue, their inconsistencies and weaker possession metrics likely leave them overmatched. Expect Minnesota to extend their dominance while Utah continues its battle for playoff relevancy.
