Anaheim Ducks Set to Battle Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center
As the Anaheim Ducks prepare to face off against the Minnesota Wild at the Xcel Energy Center, fans can anticipate an intense matchup. The Ducks have shown a mixed bag of results in their recent games, which could make for an unpredictable contest.
In their last game against the Seattle Kraken, the Ducks fell short with a score of 2-3. Despite outshooting their opponents 34-22 and winning 62 percent of faceoffs, they couldn't capitalize on their powerplay opportunities, scoring only once in three chances. Their shooting percentage was notably low at six percent compared to the Kraken's more efficient 14 percent.
The previous game saw an even tougher outcome for Anaheim as they were shut out by the Calgary Flames with a final score of 0-3. The Flames dominated with seven powerplays and managed to convert one into a goal. The Ducks' goaltender put up an impressive performance with a save percentage of 93 but was ultimately overwhelmed by Calgary's aggressive offense that took 44 shots.
However, there is hope stemming from Anaheim's performance before these setbacks when they secured a win against Detroit Red Wings with four goals on just 22 shots – showcasing an impressive shooting accuracy of 18 percent. They also demonstrated resilience by maintaining a lead despite being outnumbered in penalties and faceoffs won.
The upcoming game will be challenging as it takes place at Minnesota's home venue – Xcel Energy Center – known for its energetic atmosphere that often boosts home team performance. However, if Anaheim can harness their ability to convert shots into goals as seen against Detroit and tighten up defensively while improving special teams play shown in past games, they stand a chance to come away with valuable points.
Ducks fans should mark their calendars for January 28th when this exciting NHL matchup will take place at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN starting from 9:00 PM ET (6:00 PM local time). You can catch all the action live on ESPN+ or tune into BSW (channel number:692) if you're following from away or BSN (channel number:668) within home locale coverage areas.