The NHL preseason is in full swing, and fans can expect a strong showing from the Chicago Blackhawks when they take on the Minnesota Wild in a cold showdown on Tuesday night. This game is scheduled for October 1, 2024 and will take place at 8:00 PM ET. It’s sure to be an explosive showdown at the Xcel Energy Center. For fans looking for hockey tips today, this is the perfect matchup to evaluate the ability of these teams as they play with different players and equipment in preparation for the regular season.
Game Information: Chicago Blackhawks vs. Minnesota Wild 10/1/24 When: Tuesday, October 1, 2024 at 8:00 PM ET Where: Xcel Energy Center TV: ESPN+ Stream: NHL.TV
Chicago Blackhawks (0-2-1) vs. Minnesota Wild (2-2-0)
The Chicago Blackhawks, despite a shaky start to the preseason, have offensive talent in Connor Bedard, whose scoring ability could pose challenges against defensive formations similar to the stout Colorado Avalanche. Bedard, along with Philip Kurashev and Nick Foligno, must navigate Minnesota’s defensive strategies, with the goal of improving goal conversion and overall game impact. Their success breaking down the Wild’s defense could be key to their first preseason win.
Conversely, the Minnesota Wild feature a strong offensive lineup led by Kirill Kaprizov, whose performance could overshadow similar defenses of the Philadelphia Flyers. Backed by Matt Boldy and Joel Eriksson Ek, the Wild offense is well-equipped to take advantage of the Blackhawks’ defensive shortcomings. Their aggressive play and ability to make power plays will be crucial as they aim to control the ball and control the pace of the game against Chicago.
Goalkeeper Petr Mrazek vs goalkeeper Filip Gustafsson
Blackhawks goaltender Petr Mrazek carries a heavy load entering the game due to last season’s 31 losses, which is a tough number for any goaltender. While respectable, Mrazek’s .908 save percentage last year would be, all things considered, no match for the wild Kaprizov-driven shooting frenzy. Marazek in goal will be very important here; Shooting and knowing when and how to handle all the pressure will be very important for Chicago against Minnesota’s offense.
On the other hand, the Wild’s Filip Gustafsson appears to be posting slightly lower stats than his Blackhawks counterpart, with a save percentage of .899. However, in addition to his experience at fullback, that will also be key to his 20 wins last season as it will be to battle the Blackhawks penetrating Minnesota’s goal. What will be complicated for Gustafsson is knowing what type of offense the Blackhawks will run, especially since they are 0-1 in preseason games.
NHL Odds/Point Spread: TBD, Total Odds: TBD
The betting prospects for this match are still patchy for various reasons such as no clear pre-season match being concluded and team strategies are still taking shape. Heading into the game, gamblers may be watching these with keen interest given that the Wild may have the advantage in terms of ownership while the Blackhawks have their heads in the sand.
Chicago Blackhawks Betting Trends
The Blackhawks have been hit or miss at times and have passed a lot of punts which likely indicates that unless their D team steps up, there will be scores in this game. Taxpayers are seeing some slight improvements in the trend in crossing that line more than before, but poor behavior on the road last season may catch the attention of bettors wondering about their chances against a good local team like the Wild.
Wild betting trends in minnesota
The past two seasons, the Wild have been a very solid team when it comes to covering the scoreboard, especially on the road, which reflects the good means of winning away games. Their last few games have all exceeded the total more often than not, which is a testament to their valuable offense, which is likely too overwhelming for the Blackhawks’ defense, which makes betting on the Wild based on those trends a good idea.
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Minnesota Wild 10/1/24 Betting Picks
Given recent trends and preseason matchups, the Wild appear to be the safer pick in this matchup. Their balanced offense coupled with a strong defense and the fact that the Blackhawks are all over the place means Minnesota will have a fair chance to win. Gamblers looking for pokie line bets should consider Wild, especially when the odds are in their favor. For prop bets, signing players like Kaprizov could be tempting given his ability to fire up Smith if he continues to play.
In terms of over/under betting, it appears the game will favor overbetting, considering the overall performance of both teams in their recent games and taking into account any defensive lapses on the Blackhawks’ part. Overall, since the Wild play as an effective team and take full advantage of playing at home, they will be the best premium picks for this game.
Free Pick and Prediction: Minnesota Wild 4, Chicago Blackhawks 2.
