Minnesota Wild vs
Calgary FlamesPredictions & Preview

Calgary Flames Look to Sweep Minnesota Wild for First Time Since 2016-17 in Western Conference Showdown

The 2024-25 NHL season resumes on Friday, April 11, with a five-game slate including a Western Conference showdown between the Minnesota Wild and Calgary Flames at Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, AB, with puck drop at 10:00 PM ET. Calgary looks to sweep the Wild for the first time since 2016-17, having previously defeated them in both November and January. The Wild open as -130 road favorites, with the total set at 5.5 goals. For more details on this matchup and other NHL picks for Friday night, continue reading. Minnesota is currently listed as the betting favorite at -117, with the line unchanged at this time.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Wild -117 | Flames +101
• Spread: Wild -1.5 (+205) | Flames +1.5 (-250)
• Total: Over/Under 5.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Minnesota will win straight-up is 54%.

Minnesota vs Calgary Stats

Minnesota Wild

The Minnesota Wild are seeking their third consecutive victory after snapping a four-game losing streak. They defeated the Dallas Stars 3-2 in overtime and outlasted the San Jose Sharks 8-7 in their most recent game. Joel Eriksson Ek scored four goals in his return from injury, while Kirill Kaprizov contributed two goals and an assist after being out since January. Despite giving up seven goals on 31 shots, Marc-Andre Fleury improved his season record to 13-9-1. Filip Gustavsson is expected to return to the goalie position on Friday with a season record of 30-18-6, a 2.54 GAA, and a .915 save percentage. Currently tied with St. Louis for the top wild card spot in the Western Conference, the Wild can secure a playoff berth with a win over Calgary. In terms of power rankings, Minnesota is ranked 30th and is 26th in offense (2.78 goals per game) and 15th in defense (2.92 goals allowed per game), with an overall record of 43-29-7 this season.

Calgary Flames Analysis

The Calgary Flames are currently five points behind Minnesota and St. Louis in the playoff race. Despite having a game in hand, a loss to the Wild on Friday night could eliminate them from contention. The Flames have had mixed results recently, with a record of 3-2-3 in their last eight games. In their most recent game, a heartbreaking 4-3 overtime defeat to the Anaheim Ducks, the Flames squandered a 3-1 lead and likely hurt their playoff chances. Despite outshooting the Ducks 39-23, goaltender Dustin Wolf allowed four goals on 23 shots. The Flames currently have a power ranking of 20 and rank last in the league for offense, averaging 2.64 goals per game. Defensively, they rank 16th, giving up an average of 2.94 goals per game. In their last three matchups against Minnesota, the Flames have gone 0-3-0.

Kirill Kaprizov's Return Sparks Offense as Minnesota Wild Face Calgary Flames

Minnesota's offense has faced challenges in recent months due to the absence of Kirill Kaprizov, who has contributed significantly with 25 goals and 30 assists. However, his return has already made a noticeable impact, with the Wild scoring eight goals in his first game back. Additionally, Joel Eriksson Ek's return further strengthens the team, with the winger having recorded 13 goals and 15 assists in 43 games this season. Given these factors, I anticipate a successful outcome for the Wild. On the other hand, the Flames have struggled offensively throughout the season, only exceeding three goals in one of their last eight games. While goaltender Dustin Wolf has shown strong performance with a 2.36 GAA and .915 save percentage in April, Calgary will need to significantly improve their offensive game to compete against a fully healthy Wild team.

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