Clash at Xcel Energy Center: Minnesota Wild to Host Los Angeles Kings
As the Minnesota Wild prepare to welcome the Los Angeles Kings to the Xcel Energy Center, fans can anticipate an engaging battle on ice. The Wild have shown a mixed bag of results in their recent outings, with a notable victory against the Nashville Predators and a hard-fought win in a shootout against the Dallas Stars. However, they stumbled in their encounter with the Colorado Avalanche, showcasing areas that need tightening up.
The game against Nashville highlighted Minnesota's ability to capitalize on powerplay opportunities and maintain composure under pressure. Their 11 percent shooting accuracy was on par with their opponents', but it was their ability to convert one out of five powerplays that made the difference. The defensive aspect also stood out as they blocked 17 shots and won crucial faceoffs at a rate of 47 percent.
In contrast, during their matchup with Dallas, while managing an impressive 97 percent save rate from goaltending efforts and securing another win through a shootout, there was room for improvement. The team's shooting percentage dipped slightly to three percent despite having more shots on goal than in previous games.
The most recent game versus Colorado exposed some weaknesses as Minnesota struggled with puck possession reflected by fewer takeaways and giveaways. Although they dominated faceoffs winning 58 percent of them and had an overwhelming number of shots at 43 compared to Colorado's 19, goaltending faltered slightly with an 84 percent save rate contributing to their loss.
As they face off against Los Angeles Kings at home where fan support is always fervent, focusing on maintaining strong defense while improving shot conversion will be key for Minnesota Wild. Goaltending will also play a pivotal role; ensuring high save percentages could be decisive for clinching victory.
Fans can catch all the action live from Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul on February 22nd at ESPN+, BSW (channel 692), BSN (channel 668), or BSWI (channel 669).