Flames vs Wild predictions
The Calgary Flames are coming into this matchup with a lot to prove, and Jonathan Huberdeau is the guy everyone will be watching. With 19 goals under his belt, he's been quite the sharpshooter this season. Can he fire up the ice once again and boost the Flames’ momentum? Alongside him, defenseman MacKenzie Weegar has been adept at creating opportunities with his 17 assists. He's like the secret weapon on the blueline, quietly orchestrating plays that set the Flames alight. Watching how these two link up will be intriguing, especially as Huberdeau vies to add more points to his current tally of 35. The question remains: can they crack the defense of the Wild in a way they did earlier this season?
Now, turning attention to the Minnesota Wild, all eyes—or at least the ones not on the injured reserve list—are usually on Kirill Kaprizov. With 23 goals and 27 assists, he's been a force every time he laces up his skates. It's unfortunate that the Wild will miss his prowess on the ice due to his injury status. That said, it opens the door for other players to step up. Who might that be? Marcus Foligno and Joel Eriksson Ek have shown flashes of brilliance this season and could fill in the gaps left by Kaprizov’s absence. Seeing how they adjust their play to compensate for this loss will be critical to Minnesota’s performance against the Flames.
So, which way will the puck bounce in this matchup? Despite the Wild’s impressive overall record, their home form has been less than ideal, sitting at 11-11-1. This gives the Flames a glimmer of hope, especially considering their decent road games record. The Wild's depth might just edge them out, but the Flames are likely to bring the heat. Expect a tight contest that could swing in favor of either team, but without Kaprizov, it might just be the Flames’ night to shine. What do you think? Could the underdogs steal the show at the Xcel Energy Center?
