Anaheim Ducks and Minnesota Wild Face Off at Xcel Energy Center
As the Anaheim Ducks prepare to face off against the Minnesota Wild at the Xcel Energy Center, fans are looking for insights into how their team might fare in this upcoming clash. Based on recent performances, there's a compelling narrative forming around the Ducks that could see them as underdogs with a fighting chance.
In their last game on December 24th against the Seattle Kraken, the Ducks fell short with a score of 2-3. Despite outshooting their opponents 34-22, they struggled to convert those opportunities into goals, with a shooting percentage of just under 6 percent. This lack of scoring efficiency has been an Achilles' heel for Anaheim and is something they'll need to address if they hope to overcome Minnesota.
However, it's not all doom and gloom for AD. Their powerplay unit showed promise by capitalizing once out of three opportunities. Moreover, their faceoff win percentage was an impressive 63 percent against Seattle – an aspect of play where they've consistently excelled. Winning faceoffs can control possession and potentially lead to more scoring chances if leveraged correctly.
The defensive side also presents some positives; AD blocked a total of 18 shots and delivered more hits than Seattle in their previous game. This physicality and willingness to sacrifice the body could be pivotal in disrupting Minnesota's offensive flow.
Looking at Minnesota Wild's recent form provides further context for what AD might expect in this matchup. The Wild have been formidable on home ice – something that will undoubtedly challenge Anaheim as they step into enemy territory.
The upcoming game is scheduled for January 27th at 9:00 PM Eastern Time (ET) at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN – a venue known for its raucous support which could play into Minnesota’s hands. Fans eager not to miss any action can catch live broadcasts on ESPN+ online or tune into BSN channel 668 (Home), BSW channel 692 (Away), or BSWIX channel 669-1 depending on your location.