Adam Williams presents his prediction for the NHL match.
The Minnesota Wild return home after a gruelling five-game road trip that yielded six points but ended disastrously with back-to-back shutout defeats against the Ottawa Senators (0:6) and Boston Bruins (03). The Carolina Hurricanes, meanwhile, have found form with a solid winning streak and strong performances on the road. They will be determined to avenge their heavy defeat in January (0:4).
Minnesota Wild
The Minnesota Wild have been struggling badly in front of goal. They have now gone two full matches without scoring, with their last goal coming in a win over the Montreal Canadiens (4:0). This lack of firepower is reflected in their overall scoring output—five consecutive games have seen total under 6. Their home form is equally concerning, with four straight defeats by a combined score of 8:20. Making matters worse, they are without Kirill Kaprizov (23+29), who has just undergone surgery, while Ryan Hartman (7+10) is serving a 10-game suspension.
Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes may also be dealing with inconsistency, but they have at least been grinding out results. Before their recent two defeats, they had won six of their previous seven matches. They have also won three of their last five road games, showing resilience away from home. Goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov put in a strong performance against the Winnipeg Jets, saving 27 of 30 shots, and could be in contention to overtake Frederik Andersen, who has only just returned from injury.
Minnesota Wild vs Carolina Hurricanes Prediction
The Minnesota Wild come into this match with serious issues—no goals, key absences, and fatigue from their road trip. The Carolina Hurricanes, despite some struggles, have the depth and quality to navigate their dip in form. However, both sides have had problems converting chances, so a high-scoring game seems unlikely.
