Wild vs Capitals: Game Preview and Line Combinations
The Minnesota Wild are set to face the Washington Capitals tonight in a highly anticipated matchup. This game will be hosted in St. Paul, Minnesota, and marks a key moment for both teams as they look to strengthen their standings in the league.
Current Team Performance
The Wild enter this game with a record of 19 wins, 9 losses, and 5 overtime losses (19-9-5). They have been on a strong run lately, boasting a 4-1-0 record in their last five games. Additionally, they have a solid 7-2-1 performance over their last ten games.
On the other hand, the Capitals hold a record of 18 wins, 10 losses, and 4 overtime losses (18-10-4). They have managed a 2-1-2 record in their last five games and 7-1-2 in their last ten. However, they are coming off a loss in their most recent road game and currently sit at 8-5-2 for the season on the road.
Home Advantage for the Wild
The Wild will look to leverage their home advantage, having won three consecutive home games and holding an impressive 11-3-4 record at home this season.
Goalie Matchup
Filip Gustavsson will be the starting goaltender for Minnesota. Gustavsson has a record of 10 wins, 8 losses, and 3 overtime losses, accompanied by a goals-against average of 2.61 and a save percentage of .908. He has recorded two shutouts in 21 starts this season.
For the Capitals, Charlie Lindgren is expected to take the ice. His performance will be crucial in stopping the Wild’s offense.
Key Player Stats
In their previous encounter, the Capitals defeated the Wild 5-1. Minnesota had been on a strong run prior to that loss, going 7-0-1 in their last eight games.
- Alex Ovechkin leads the Capitals with an impressive 21 goals, 19 assists, and 40 points in 26 career games against the Wild.
- Ovechkin set a record in 2017 by scoring three power-play goals in a single game against Minnesota.
Line Combinations
| Wild Lines | Capitals Lines |
|---|---|
| Kirill Kaprizov – Joel Eriksson Ek – Matt Boldy | Anthony Beauvillier – Dylan Strome – Alex Ovechkin |
| Yakov Trenin – Danila Yurov – Vladimir Tarasenko | Aliaksei Protas – Justin Sourdif – Tom Wilson |
| Marcus Foligno – Ryan Hartman – Nicolas Aube-Kubel | Connor McMichael – Hendrix Lapierre – Ethen Frank |
| Ben Jones – Nico Sturm – Tyler Pitlick | Sonny Milano – Nic Dowd – Brandon Duhaime |
Injuries
Injuries may impact both teams, with several players unavailable:
- Wild Injuries: Jake Middleton, Jonas Brodin, Mats Zuccarello, Marcus Johansson, Vinnie Hinostroza, Zach Bogosian
- Capitals Injuries: Ryan Leonard, Pierre-Luc Dubois
How to Watch
This exciting matchup will be broadcasted on Fanduel Sports Network North, featuring play-by-play from Anthony LaPanta and analysis from Ryan Carter. Fans can also tune into the radio on KFAN FM 100.3 with Joe O’Donnell as the announcer.
The Wild versus Capitals matchup promises to deliver thrilling hockey, showcasing two teams aiming for improved standings and playoff positioning.
