Minnesota Wild vs
New York IslandersPredictions & Preview

Wild vs Islanders: Minnesota looks to continue dominance over New York in cross-conference battle at UBS Arena

The 2024-25 NHL season continues on Friday with a small three-game card, featuring a cross-conference battle between the Wild and Islanders at UBS Arena in Elmont, NY. The puck drop is set for 7:30 PM ET. The Wild previously defeated the Islanders 6-3 in February as -155 home favorites. This time around, the Islanders are -120 home favorites. New York opens as the -130 betting favorite, and the line has yet to move. Stay tuned for our Wild vs. Islanders prediction and NHL picks for Friday night.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Wild +110 | Islanders -130
• Spread: Wild +1.5 (-240) | Islanders -1.5 (+198)
• Total: Over/Under 5.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that New York will win straight-up is 57%.

Minnesota vs New York Stats

Minnesota Wild

The Minnesota Wild have had a mixed run of form recently, going 1-3-2 over their last six games but remaining undefeated in their last three matches. Recent losses include a 5-4 defeat in overtime against the New York Rangers and two losses against the New Jersey Devils. The team is currently tied with the St. Louis Blues for the fourth spot in the Central Division and holds the wild card, sitting seven points ahead of the Calgary Flames. Goaltender Filip Gustavsson has a solid 2.54 GAA and a .916 save percentage, while Marc-Andre Fleury has a 2.78 GAA and a .903 save percentage this season. In terms of rankings, Minnesota is ranked 27th in offense, 12th in defense, and has a 41-28-7 overall record this season.

New York Islanders Analysis

The New York Islanders are currently struggling, having lost six consecutive games and earning only two points during that stretch. Their defense has been particularly problematic, allowing 27 goals while only scoring 16 in return. In their recent game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Islanders fell 4-1 despite outshooting their opponent. Goalie Ilya Sorokin has been facing difficulties, with a record of 27-23-6 and a save percentage of .904. The team is also missing key players such as goalie Semyon Varlamov and center Mathew Barzal. The Islanders are currently ranked 28th and are five points behind the bottom wild card spot in the East.

Minnesota Wild's Defense Key as New York Islanders Struggle Offensively

The Minnesota Wild continue to feel the absence of winger Kirill Kaprizov and center Joel Eriksson Ek, both key players with impressive statistics. With a reliance on their defense, the team has struggled offensively since Kaprizov's injury earlier this year. Conversely, the New York Islanders are experiencing a downward trend as they have lost four consecutive games, with a total of 20 goals allowed in their recent matches. Despite a challenging performance against the Rangers, goaltender Filip Gustavsson is expected to improve and make a difference for the Wild. With a stellar 1.98 GAA and .930 save percentage in March, Gustavsson is poised to fend off the Islanders' offensive pressure. Ultimately, the Wild's strong defensive play is likely to be a determining factor in the outcome of the game.

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