Minnesota vs San Jose: The Sharks even have a chance of winning here

Minnesota are virtually unbeaten at the start of the championship and rightfully tops the Central Division standings. The Wild will play their next game on home ice against the San Jose Sharks. Will the Wild strengthen their position? We’ll pick a few options to bet on at once.

It’s unlikely that Minnesota should be written off as a championship favorite right now, but the team at least shows that it was no coincidence that they made the playoffs last season. Back then, it was perceived as a tremendous success. The Wild already have ten wins in 14 games. It’s a great result, although the shortcomings are worth considering as well. Minnesota concede a lot - 43 goals, more than three on average per game; only 6 of their ten wins have come in regulation time. In addition, the team has already lost to two direct Central Division rivals. Colorado and Nashville, and Minnesota lost to the Predators on home ice.

Ahead of their home game against San Jose, the Wild played three straight away games. They beat Arizona and Seattle but lost to Vegas.

For the Sharks, the road trip continues. The game in St. Paul will be the Sharks’ 4th consecutive game away from home. Bob Boughner’s team started the trip well, beating a very strong Calgary 4-1. But then they lost to Winnipeg (1-4) and Colorado (2-6). In total, San Jose have four losses in their last five games and 7 in their last 10.

The Sharks’ woes are understandable. The team’s starting lineup was very unstable as Covid’s outburst hurt in particular. Fortunately, by the time the game with Colorado came around, everyone who had an illness was back on the roster. So it should get easier for San Jose from here on out.

There is an impression that Minnesota overcame the points in the opening stretch. So far, Dean Evason’s team cannot in the full sense be counted among the contentment either, and the current leadership in the division is partly explained by trivial things like luck and a convenient calendar. San Jose can score points in the upcoming game, especially since the Sharks need them more than the Wild. Already in the game against Colorado, the team welcomed recovered players. That didn’t help in Denver on the high road, but it should affect Minnesota.

We predict that San Jose will not lose.

• X2 for 1.90;
• Draw in regulation time for 4.20;
• Correct score 4-4 for 26.00.