Carolina (32-18-4) at Minnesota (31-19-4)
- When: Feb 6 2025, 6:30 PM
- Where: Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, MN, USA
- TV: ESPN+/Hulu
Game Preview
Minnesota Wild: Struggling to Find Home-Ice Advantage
The Wild may be among the NHL’s best road teams this season, but their performance on home ice has been a different story. Despite a 20-7-3 road record, Minnesota has struggled at Xcel Energy Center, sitting at 11-12-1. Their offensive production has dipped significantly at home, averaging just 2.58 goals per game (31st in the NHL), while their defense has also been suspect, allowing 3.29 goals per contest.
Special teams have been a major concern at home, with the Wild sporting the league’s worst penalty kill (61.1%). Their third-period woes have also been costly, scoring only 22 goals in the final frame at home—ranking 30th in the league.
Returning home after a disappointing end to their road trip, Minnesota was shut out in consecutive games against Ottawa (6-0) and Boston (3-0). With key forward Kirill Kaprizov still sidelined, Marco Rossi (46 points) will need to step up if the Wild hope to bounce back.
Carolina Hurricanes: Looking to Reignite the Offense
Carolina enters this matchup in a rare slump, having lost back-to-back games to the Kings (4-2) and Jets (3-0). Before that, the Hurricanes were riding a seven-game point streak (6-0-1) but have now gone two straight games without a goal.
One of the biggest concerns has been their power play, which has gone just 1-for-25 over the past 10 games. Star forward Sebastian Aho acknowledged the need for improvement, stating, “We had our looks, but we weren’t able to cash in, and that’s been the trend lately. We’ve got to be better.”
Despite their recent struggles, the Hurricanes have been strong overall, allowing just 2.67 goals per game this season. With a bounce-back effort expected, Carolina has the defensive edge and the more consistent team play heading into this one.
Betting Prediction:
Carolina ML (-172)
Under 5.5 Goals
Sebastian Aho Anytime Goal
The Wild have not been able to find consistency at home, and with their offense sputtering, Carolina (-172) has the advantage. Look for the Hurricanes to break their scoring slump and keep Minnesota’s struggles at home intact. The under is also in play with both teams facing recent scoring issues.
- NHL Odds source: Bovada Sportsbook
