Minnesota Wild Aims to Tame Ottawa Senators in St. Paul Showdown
As the Minnesota Wild prepare to host the Ottawa Senators at Xcel Energy Center, fans can anticipate a game where recent trends could play a significant role. The Wild have had a mixed bag of results in their last few outings, showcasing both resilience and areas for improvement.
In their most recent match against the St. Louis Blues, the Wild displayed an impressive offensive effort with 34 shots on goal but ultimately fell short in overtime, securing one point from a 4-5 loss. Despite this setback, they demonstrated an ability to rally from behind with three goals scored in the second period and maintaining an even strength throughout.
However, it was not all smooth sailing for Minnesota; they faced challenges in faceoff circles winning only 45 percent of draws and were unable to capitalize on their single powerplay opportunity. This area will be crucial against Ottawa as controlling puck possession often translates into scoring chances.
Defensively, goaltending remains strong for the Wild with a save percentage rounding up to 100 percent during even strength play but will need more support from skaters to reduce high-danger chances against them.
Looking back further reveals another concern: discipline. In their game versus Los Angeles Kings just over a week ago, Minnesota suffered a heavy defeat without scoring while conceding six goals. The penalty kill was put under immense pressure due to numerous infractions leading to two powerplay goals against them.
On the flip side, when visiting Anaheim Ducks prior to that loss, Minnesota showcased what they are capable of when playing disciplined hockey – securing a shutout victory with four goals scored and dominating faceoffs at 67 percent success rate.
The upcoming clash promises excitement as both teams vie for critical points late in the season. Fans can catch all the action live on ESPN+ or BSN when these two teams hit the ice on April 3rd at Xcel Energy Center located at 199 W Kellogg Boulevard in St. Paul (zip code: 55102), USA – puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 PM CT.