This Thursday at 7 PM Eastern, the Pittsburgh Penguins welcome the Minnesota Wild to town, with both teams looking to secure the final Wild Card position in their respective conferences. Both squads have grabbed hold of the New Year, and look poised to make a second-half run. Lots is being played on the potential of both teams to move forward to the final stages.
The Pittsburgh Penguins (25-21-3) struggled with consistency throughout the first half of the season, but with the turn of the calendar to 2018, the Pens have hit a new level. They’re 7-3-0 in the month of January, and have drawn within a point of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Over that stretch, the Pens have surrendered just 2.33 goals per game, and have outscored their opponents 34-22. They’ll need to maintain that improved defensive play
if they hope to top the Wild on Thursday.
Minnesota (26-17-5) has also thrived in 2018. They’ve gone 6-1-2 in the New Year, and have seen their star goaltender, Devan Dubnyk, take the team on his back. The Wild have allowed two or more goals just three times over their last nine, and Dubnyk’s already impressive stats have gotten stronger (2.59 goals against average, .919 save percentage). Dubnyk will need to be at his best against the high-scoring Pens. Don’t miss the action.
NHL Odds: West Versus East Showdown in Pittsburgh
The surging Minnesota Wild march into Pittsburgh this Thursday (7 PM ET) to take on Sidney Crosby and the Penguins. Minnesota has tallied points in eight of their last nine games, and now sit just one point out of the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. They’ll try to continue that momentum and stamp their name on a Western Conference playoff spot.
Pittsburgh has benefitted from much improved play from their defense and goaltenders in recent games. A point of weakness through the first half of the season, the Pens’ defence have improved and have taken 12 of 18 points in January. They’ll need that play to continue this Thursday on home ice to have any chance of reaching the playoffs.
The streaking Wild head to Pennsylvania to take on the defending Stanley Cup Champions this Thursday at 7 PM ET. Minnesota will need to figure out a way to stop the high-flying Kessel, who has amassed 54 points in 49 games. Somehow the winger has been left off of the All-Star Game roster, so he’ll be playing with a chip on his shoulder at home.
The defensive-minded Minnesota Wild will attempt to slow down Phil Kessel and the offensively-gifted Pittsburgh Penguins this Thursday (7 PM ET). The two teams have played well enough over their last 10 games to pull themselves within a point of the final playoff position in the
Western and Eastern Conferences. Don’t miss this clash as it promises much.
The Penguins and Wild will do battle this Thursday (7 PM ET) in Pittsburgh, as both teams are attempting to pull themselves out of
early-season holes. After making up some serious ground over their last 10 games, both teams are eager to keep the momentum going. Watch
as Sid and Phil attempt to solve the defensive-minded Wild.
The Pittsburgh Penguins take on the Minnesota Wild this Thursday in Pennsylvania (7 PM ET). Don’t miss this matchup between Western and
Eastern Conference rivals.
