PREMIUM
GAME OF THE WEEK (Rogers' 10* NHL!) >> 17-7 L24 NHL Sides!
(NHL) Minnesota vs. Florida,
Money Line: -105.00 Minnesota (Away)
Result: Loss
Money Line: -105.00 Minnesota (Away)
Result: Loss
The set-up:The Minnesota Wild had not scored more that two goals in any of their previous four games but on Tuesday broke out of their scoring slump. The 18-13-3 Wild trailed the Senators 3-1 at Ottawa in the second period before scoring five consecutive goals and taking total control of the game in a 6-4 victory. Minnesota hopes that momentum will carry over when it visits the Florida Panthers on Friday in the third stop of a four-game road trip. The Panthers have also been struggling recently offensively, despite ending a three-game skid with a 3-2 win at Arizona on Tuesday. The win capped a 2-2-1 road trip for the 13-16-5 Panthers but Tuesday's victory marked the first time they had scored more than two goals on the five-game trip.
Minnesota:Captain Mikko Koivu had gone 24 games without a goal and 11 without a point before netting the tying tally in the comeback win at Ottawa. "Mikko's goal, you could see the air coming out of a balloon," head coach Bruce Boudreau said. "We've talked about it, but it gets tough. You start to put pressure on yourself because you expect more, so I'm hoping this is a jump-start for him." In contrast to Koivu's struggles, Eric Staal (14 goals & 17 assists for a team-leading 31 points) has four goals and four assists in the last six games. Backup goalie Alex Stalock improved to 3-2-0, allowing 11 goals, in place of injured starter Devan Dubnyk, who has been out since hurting his knee against Calgary on Dec. 12. Dubnyk practiced briefly Thursday for the first time since suffering a lower-body injury on Dec. 12.. He could play against the Panthers on Friday or the next night at Tampa Bay.
Florida:Speaking of goaltenders, Florida's James Reimer earned praise from his coach following a 39-save performance against the Coyotes. "Reimer is playing so good right now," head coach Bob Boughner said. "If you make the odd mistake, he is coming up with the save." Reimer was making his seventh consecutive start due to an injury to No. 1 netminder Roberto Luongo, and it turned out to be his is fifth straight start in which he had allowed three goals or fewer. Defenseman Mike Matheson scored his first three goals of the season on the road trip, two of them game-winners.
The pick: The Panthers have struggled at home this season, going 6-6-3, while allowing 4.00 goals per game. That's good news to Minnesota's leading scorer Eric Staal, who has 20 goals and 50 points in 68 games versus the Panthers. Whether it's Dubnyk (2.69 GAA & .916 SP) or Stalock (2.80 GAA & .913 SP), I'll make the Wild a 10* play.
Minnesota:Captain Mikko Koivu had gone 24 games without a goal and 11 without a point before netting the tying tally in the comeback win at Ottawa. "Mikko's goal, you could see the air coming out of a balloon," head coach Bruce Boudreau said. "We've talked about it, but it gets tough. You start to put pressure on yourself because you expect more, so I'm hoping this is a jump-start for him." In contrast to Koivu's struggles, Eric Staal (14 goals & 17 assists for a team-leading 31 points) has four goals and four assists in the last six games. Backup goalie Alex Stalock improved to 3-2-0, allowing 11 goals, in place of injured starter Devan Dubnyk, who has been out since hurting his knee against Calgary on Dec. 12. Dubnyk practiced briefly Thursday for the first time since suffering a lower-body injury on Dec. 12.. He could play against the Panthers on Friday or the next night at Tampa Bay.
Florida:Speaking of goaltenders, Florida's James Reimer earned praise from his coach following a 39-save performance against the Coyotes. "Reimer is playing so good right now," head coach Bob Boughner said. "If you make the odd mistake, he is coming up with the save." Reimer was making his seventh consecutive start due to an injury to No. 1 netminder Roberto Luongo, and it turned out to be his is fifth straight start in which he had allowed three goals or fewer. Defenseman Mike Matheson scored his first three goals of the season on the road trip, two of them game-winners.
The pick: The Panthers have struggled at home this season, going 6-6-3, while allowing 4.00 goals per game. That's good news to Minnesota's leading scorer Eric Staal, who has 20 goals and 50 points in 68 games versus the Panthers. Whether it's Dubnyk (2.69 GAA & .916 SP) or Stalock (2.80 GAA & .913 SP), I'll make the Wild a 10* play.
