Minnesota at Los Angeles

The Minnesota Wild is a dog here, but a talented all around team off to a good start. The offense is 10th in goals scored, and the defense, the backbone of the team, has been sensational, tops in goals allowed with just 0.7 per contest. Minnesota goaltender Darcy Kuemper leads this defense-first team, which is how you want to be when taking on the defending champs. They come off their first loss, 2-1 at Anaheim, despite a +8 edge on faceoffs, getting more shots on goal, allowing only 26 shots, and held the Ducks to 0-for-4 on the power play. Minnesoa is 9-4 in their last 13 when their opponent allows two goals or less in their previous game, which Los Angeles did, off a 1-0 win. The Los Angeles offense is 20th in goals scored, 25th on the power play, and Kings RW Marian Gaborik (lower body) has missed the last two games. And Minnesota has no fear of the champs with the Wild 5-2 in the last seven meetings. Minnesota won in Los Angeles twice last season, once in a shootout. Play the Minnesota Wild.