Anaheim Ducks vs Minnesota Wild

The Minnesota Wild has opened some eyes by the way they have come out of the gate. The Wild is 9-2-2 through 13 games and is plus 12 in net goals. Minnesota has really shown up in front of the net and on the defensive end. Opponents have not scored more than two goals in eight of the 13 games, and just three in two other games. The Ducks have lost three straight games and overall they have started rather poorly. They are -12 in net goals in the early going. The offense is averaging right around two goals per game on the season. It is tough to get wins when you don't score. Minnesota has dominated this series as they are 15-1 against the Ducks in the last 16 meetings. Make the play on Minnesota.

Minnesota has won nine of the past 10 meetings following a 2-0 victory on Thursday when Marc-Andre Fleury stopped all 16 shots he faced and he is the likely starter tonight for the Wild. Fleury has won four of his past five starts and he is 16-11-4 with a 2.67 goals-against average and a .905 save percentage on the season. He has allowed a total of only eight goals his past five appearances. The Wild have won six straight against the Pacific Division and five in a row overall versus teams with losing records. Anaheim is 6-28 as a home underdog of +151 to +200 and 10-42 as a home dog overall. The Ducks are on a six-game losing streak while scoring only seven goals in that span. Take the Wild as a Max Play. 

Anaheim defeated the Wild 3-2 in the last meeting on Jan. 27 and its goalies have a decent history against the Wild. If the Ducks go with John Gibson he is 7-6-4 with a 2.51 goals-against average and a .925 save percentage against Minnesota. Lukas Dostal has made three appearances against the Wild and is 1-1-0 with a 2.62 goals-against average and a .934 save percentage. The Wild will likely have Filip Gustavsson in net with a 17-15-4 record and a 3.26 GAA. Both teams are playing their third game in four days, but all the pressure is on the Wild, who are battling to make the playoffs while Anaheim has nothing to lose. Take the road underdog Ducks.