Wild vs Flames

With the boys from St. Paul riding a two-game win streak and heading to Calgary tonight, the Wild have momentum on their side against a Flames squad that just dropped their last outing to the Ducks. The Flames are still without key forward Anthony Mantha, who remains sidelined with an  injury, making their already fragile scoring a struggle. Meanwhile, the Wild have been buoyed by standout performances from Matt Boldy, who’s found his rhythm again late in the season and are glad to see Kirill Kaprizov back on the ice after a long injury recovery. Both teams are clawing for playoff positioning in a tightly-packed Western Conference, but Minnesota, with its more favorable form heading into the final stretch and a stronger goaltending tandem in Gustavsson and Fleury, has the edge. Given their odds at -125, this isn’t a high-payout pick but offers solid reliability. Recommendation: take the Wild moneyline at home for modest but stable value. Grade: B. Odds and availability are subject to change.

The Flames limp into this late-season clash on a one-game skid, and with their dim playoff hopes flickering, they’ll lean heavily on Dustin Wolf in net to keep them alive against a red-hot Minnesota lineup. The Wild ride a modest two-game winning streak and continue to find consistency behind Filip Gustavsson, whose recent form between the pipes has been sharp. Calgary’s missing forwards Anthony Mantha and Justin Kirklan won't help an already sputtering offensive unit, leaving top scorers like Nazem Kadri under pressure to step up. Meanwhile, Kirill Kaprizov — historically a thorn in Calgary’s side with 10 points in his last 6 games against them — looms large after returning from injury himself, but Minnesota has shown an inclination to slow down the pace in away games, especially with playoffs around the corner. With both teams eager to limit mistakes and preserve points in a tight Western Conference race, defense and goaltending should be emphasized. The total sits at 5.5, but given playoff-style intensity and missing offensive contributors, we're leaning under at even money. Odds and availability are subject to change.

Riding a modest two-game winning streak, the Minnesota Wild come into Calgary on Friday night with momentum, depth, and urgency as they chase a stronger playoff seeding. Meanwhile, the Flames—losers of their last contest—continue to show just enough inconsistency to make bettors wary. Calgary’s D-core may be stretched thin, giving Wild playmakers like Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello more room to operate. Historically, Kaprizov has fared well against the Flames, making him a real threat in this showdown. Both teams are deep into the regular season, and while Minnesota has already locked in more wins, Calgary’s position is shakier, hanging onto wild-card hopes. That desperation could fuel their offense, but the more disciplined Wild have fared better in close games—an important factor when considering a puckline bet. Given that the Wild don’t have to win outright to cover and are trending with better form, the +1.5 spread gives solid value even at less exciting odds. However, due to the juiced line at -205 and lower monetary leverage, this wager gets a Grade B. Odds and availability are subject to change.