Adam Williams presents his prediction for the NHL match.
The Minnesota Wild have taken points in almost all of their November games, but they now host the Anaheim Ducks, who have unexpectedly surged into the top three in the Western Conference.
Minnesota Wild
The Minnesota Wild have won four of their last six games and lost twice, with a recent 1:2 OT defeat to the San Jose Sharks. The team are not known for a potent offence (51 goals), but in November they have averaged more than three goals per game (19 in 6 games), and Kirill Kaprizov has recorded 4 goals and 2 assists over this stretch. The hosts’ defence is not convincing — 59 goals conceded, 36 of them at home.
Anaheim Ducks
The Anaheim Ducks have surprised with their form: seven wins in a row, but they have lost their last two games. First, the team led by Joel Quenneville lost 1:4 to the Colorado Avalanche, then 3:6 to the Detroit Red Wings. The team posted poor shot conversion — 10.7% against the Detroit Red Wings and 2.8% against the Colorado Avalanche. Even so, the visitors are productive up front — 67 goals (only the Colorado Avalanche have more), and Leo Carlsson is in the NHL’s top five scorers (11+15). Defensively, there are issues: 3.3 goals conceded per game on average, with 42 of those coming away from home.
Minnesota Wild vs Anaheim Ducks Prediction
Both teams are strong in attack, but their defensive problems persist. We expect a high-scoring game in which the Minnesota Wild and the Anaheim Ducks score at least five goals.
