Los Angeles Kings vs. Minnesota Wild Predictions, Picks and NHL Preview – March 22, 2016

Minnesota fans want to see hockey played in Xcel Energy Center this April. That means pressure for the Minnesota Wild, who are making a late-season push to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs. They’re just one point back of the Colorado Avalanche for the second and last wild card ticket in the Western Conference.

A win later today would be big for Minnesota, but doing that against the Los Angeles Kings is going to be easier said than done. Will the Wild make it three in a row? Or will the Kings return in the win column following a loss to Nashville?

Read on for more about this game. You can also check out our preview of Red Wings vs. Lightning.

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Los Angeles Kings vs. Minnesota Wild Preview

Where: Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul

When: Tuesday, March 22, 2016 8:30 PM ET

Line: Los Angeles Kings vs. Minnesota Wild – view all NHL lines

TV Broadcast: NBCSN

Betting on the Los Angeles Kings (44-23-5)

The Kings are on a roll this late in the season. We’ve seen this movie before, Los Angeles finding that extra gear and going on a winning spree just in time for the playoffs. The Kings lost to Nashville, 5-2, on Monday, but that setback shouldn’t take away the incredible four-game win streak LA managed prior to the Preds contest.

During that stretch, LA defeated the Blackhawks, Stars, Rangers, and Bruins. Those are big time wins testifying how scary the Kings are becoming lately. The Kings are just playing solid on both ends of the ice. They’ve outscored their last five opponents, 18-11. The Kings are 12th in the league in goals for (2.7 per game) and first in goals against (2.2 goals allowed per game) and their all-around excellence should show up against Minnesota later tonight.

Los Angeles has imposed its puck-possession dominance in the two games against the Wild thus far this season. When the Kings beat Minnesota (2-1 OT) on the road on October 16, they had a 37-26 shots advantage. They did it again, albeit in a 3-0 road loss to Minnesota on January 21, getting off 32 shots as against the Wilds’ 28.

The Kings own the best Corsi For Percentage (55.9%) in the NHL, which means the Wild are going to need some luck in order for them to get more scoring opportunities than LA. Minnesota is just 21st in CF% with a 48.1 clip.

Anze Kopitar, who paces the King in assists (43) and points (67), has scored four goals and three helpers in his last five games. He had a goal in the first showdown with Minnesota this season.

As for the defense, the Kings look to shutdown Minnesota’s special teams. LA has allowed just one power play on 15 shorthanded situations over their last five games.

LA is 7-3 in its last 10 games.

Betting on the Minnesota Wild (34-28-11)

There’s nothing like beating the defending champions to boost one team’s morale. The Wild notched their second-straight win by taking down Chicago in shootout on Sunday, 3-2.

The Wild will carry that momentum going into tonight’s contest at home against Los Angeles. They are 6-4 in their last 10 games at Xcel Energy Center against the Kings.

Minnesota’s defense was key in its last two wins. Devan Dubnyk has been sensational in those with the 29-year-old netminder turning away 64 of 28 total shots faced. Dubnyk, however, wasn’t in front of the net in the two previous meetings with LA. And with Duane Kemper injured, expect Dubnyk to start later tonight.

Dubnyk is 6-1 with a 2.47 GAA and .912 SV% in nine starts thus far this month and his presence between the pipes versus the Kings should be a favorable sight for the Wild, who are 11th in the league in defense with 2.5 goals against allowed per game.

More on Minnesota’s defense, the Wild’s penalty kill has been impeccable lately. They’ve foiled all 13 power play attempts of their last seven opponents. That sounds trouble for the Kings, who are just 0-for-12 in their last power play opportunities.

Minnesota isn’t that good on offense but the Wild have no problem scoring against Jonathan Quick in the January meeting with LA. Charlie Coyle, who scored the shootout goal in the Chicago game, leads the Wild with 21 goals. He netted a goal in the January win over LA.

Writer’s Prediction

Minnesota wins, 2-1.