On December 20, 2024, the Utah Hockey Club will face off against the Minnesota Wild at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN. This Central Division matchup promises to be an intriguing contest as both teams come in with contrasting recent performances.
Current Standings and Records
As of today, the Minnesota Wild hold a record of 20 wins, 8 losses, and 4 overtime losses (20-8-4), placing them second in the Central Division with 44 points. In contrast, the Utah Hockey Club has a record of 15 wins, 11 losses, and 5 overtime losses (15-11-5), ranking fifth in the Western Division with 35 points.
In terms of scoring, the Minnesota Wild average 3.06 goals per game while allowing 2.63 goals against, resulting in a positive goal differential of +14. The Utah Hockey Club is slightly behind with an average of 3.03 goals per game and allows 2.87 goals against, giving them a goal differential of +5.
Special Teams Statistics
The Utah Hockey Club excels in special teams play:
- Power Play Success Rate:
- Utah: 21.6%
- Minnesota: 19.8%
- Penalty Kill Efficiency:
- Utah: 78.2%
- Minnesota: 70.1%
These statistics indicate that Utah’s special teams could play a crucial role in this matchup, especially given their recent success on the power play.
Shots on Goal
When it comes to shots on goal, the Minnesota Wild average approximately 28.6 shots per game, while allowing about 28.9 shots against. The Utah Hockey Club averages around 27.1 shots per game but allows fewer shots against at approximately 28.2.
Goaltending Performance
Goaltending will also be a pivotal factor:
- Utah’s Karel Vejmelka has a save percentage of .915 and a goals-against average (GAA) of 2.37.
- For Minnesota, with Filip Gustavsson out due to injury, veteran Marc-Andre Fleury will be stepping in as the starting goaltender. Fleury’s experience will be essential for Minnesota as they navigate through injuries.
Recent Performances
Utah comes into this game riding high on a six-game point streak, having recently defeated the Vancouver Canucks 3-2 in overtime. Conversely, Minnesota has struggled lately, losing three out of their last four games. This context adds an interesting layer to the matchup as momentum can significantly impact performance.
Injury Report
Injuries are affecting both teams:
- Utah Hockey Club: Robert Bortuzzo is out.
- Minnesota Wild: Filip Gustavsson is out, along with several other key players including Jacob Middleton and Joel Eriksson Ek
Home/Away Performance Analysis
The Minnesota Wild have been strong at home this season, while Utah has shown resilience on the road with recent successes. This dynamic could influence the game’s outcome as home ice advantage often plays a significant role in NHL matchups.
Coaching Strategies and Head-to-Head History
Both coaches will need to adjust their strategies based on player availability and recent trends:
- Head Coach Andre Tourigny for Utah has been effective in maximizing his team’s potential during their current run.
- The Wild’s coaching staff will need to adapt quickly with key players missing from their lineup.
In their last meeting just ten days ago, Minnesota edged out Utah in a shootout victory (5-4), which may give them psychological leverage going into this game.
Advanced Metrics and Puck Possession
Examining advanced metrics such as Corsi and Fenwick can provide deeper insights into puck possession and shot quality:
- Both teams have shown competitive Corsi percentages indicating they can generate offensive opportunities.
- Face-off win percentages are also close; however, Utah slightly leads at around 51.1%, which could translate into more puck possession opportunities during critical moments of the game.
Betting Trends and Predictions
The current betting lines show Utah as the underdog with a moneyline of +109 compared to Minnesota’s -129. The puck line is set at 1.5 goals with a total set at 6 goals for the game.
Based on analysis from multiple reputable NHL prediction models:
- A predicted final score could be Minnesota Wild 3 – Utah Hockey Club 2, reflecting both teams’ recent scoring trends and defensive capabilities.
- Confidence level in this prediction is medium due to both teams’ fluctuating performances.
Recommended Bet Type
Given the close nature of this matchup and both teams’ tendencies towards lower-scoring games recently, betting on the total to go under 6 goals appears prudent.
Key Matchups
Key players to watch include:
- For Utah: Clayton Keller and Dylan Guenther have been instrumental in recent games.
- For Minnesota: Kirill Kaprizov remains a constant threat on offense.
This matchup promises to be an exciting contest filled with playoff implications as both teams strive for crucial points in their respective divisions.
