Wild vs. Capitals Morning Skate Highlights
The Minnesota Wild will face the Washington Capitals for the last time this season at the Grand Casino Arena. The match is scheduled for tonight at 7:00 p.m.
Previous Encounters and Current Performance
In their first encounter this season on October 17, the Wild suffered a significant defeat, losing 5-1 while being outshot 45-14. That game marked the beginning of a challenging stretch for Minnesota, as they struggled with a record of 1-5-3.
However, the Wild have recently turned their season around, posting an impressive 14-2-2 record in their last 18 games. Additionally, they have secured a point in their last 12 home games, boasting a record of 10-0-2 during this stretch.
Home Advantage
- Wild’s four-game home win streak against the Capitals.
- Tied for the second-longest current home win streak against Washington.
- Other teams with longer streaks: Sabres (five wins), Stars (four wins).
Goalie Update
Filip Gustavsson will start for the Wild tonight. He is coming off a strong performance, recording 29 saves in a recent win over the Boston Bruins. Gustavsson owns a record of 6-1-1 in his last eight starts, boasting a goals-against average (GAA) of 1.84 and a .931 save percentage (SV%). In five games against the Capitals, he has a record of 3-2-0 with a GAA of 3.20 and a SV% of .906.
Injury Report
The Wild will see the return of Marcus Foligno after he missed nine games due to a lower body injury. However, they will be without several forwards, including Vinnie Hinostroza, Marcus Johansson, and Mats Zuccarello, as well as defensemen Zach Bogosian, Jonas Brodin, and Jake Middleton. Notably, Hinostroza and Zuccarello were seen skating today.
Players to Watch
- Quinn Hughes: The newest defenseman for the Wild debuted impressively, scoring a goal and logging over 26 minutes of ice time. Versus the Capitals, Hughes has tallied 15 points (3 goals, 12 assists) in just 11 games.
- Joel Eriksson Ek: Eriksson Ek is on a four-game point streak, collecting seven points (3 goals, 4 assists) and holding a plus-8 rating. He has accumulated eight points (4 goals, 4 assists) in 11 career games against Washington.
- Kirill Kaprizov: Kaprizov has yet to score against the Capitals in his NHL career. His next goal will elevate him to second place in franchise history, surpassing Mikko Koivu’s record of 205 goals.
With the Wild’s current momentum and notable players returning, tonight’s matchup promises to be an exciting contest as they aim for a victory over the Capitals.
