Minnesota Wild vs Philadelphia Flyers Picks and Predictions December 14th 2024

Minnesota Wild vs Philadelphia Flyers December 14th 2024

Betting on today’s Flyers and Wild game? Catch the action at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN, as the Wild hosts this showdown at 2:00 ET on NBCS. The over/under for this non-conference contest is set at 5.5 goals, with the Wild being the favored by -1.5 goals against the Flyers.

Philadelphia vs. Minnesota Key Information

The Flyers fell to 14-12-4 after a 3-0 road loss to the Bruins. Philadelphia’s defense held Boston scoreless until 6:32 into the first period, but the Flyers’ offense couldn’t respond, failing to find the net throughout the game.

As underdogs on the puck line, the Flyers failed to cover. The total was set at 6.5 goals, and the combined score of 3 fell well short of that mark.

Philadelphia’s offense was shut out in their 3-0 loss to the Bruins. Despite taking 20 shots on goal, the Flyers were unable to find the back of the net. They also had 15 giveaways, which didn’t help their cause.

Your next big win starts with our expert tips resource.

After a 2-0 second period, the Flyers couldn’t break through in the third, ending the game scoreless. They finished with 0 assists and 12 penalty minutes.

Defensively, the Flyers gave up the first goal at 13:28 in the first period and another at 11:23 in the second. They allowed a third goal on an empty net late in the third. Samuel Ersson made 8 saves with a 100% save percentage before the Flyers pulled him for the extra attacker. The Flyers’ defense also recorded 5 takeaways and 30 hits.

With a 2-1 win over the Maple Leafs, the Wild improved to 19-6-4. Minnesota was favored on the puck line, but the game went to overtime, and the total of 3 goals fell short of the pre-game line of 6.

Ryan Hartman opened the scoring for the Wild at 9:41 in the first period, but the Maple Leafs tied it up with just 52 seconds left in the period. Matt Boldy scored the game-winner at 2:14 in overtime.

Ryan Hartman netted his third goal of the season, opening the scoring for Minnesota at 9:41 in the first period. Matt Boldy added his sixth goal, securing the Wild’s 2-1 overtime victory at 2:14 into the extra period.

Ready for smarter betting?

Join Now!

Jared Spurgeon contributed with two assists, bringing his season total to three. The Wild fired 33 shots on goal but were held scoreless in the second and third periods.

Defensively, the Wild will look to carry momentum from their last game, where they allowed just one goal to the Maple Leafs. Filip Gustavsson made 27 saves and posted a 96.4% save percentage. The defense also added 7 takeaways, 22 hits, and 8 blocks. The only goal they allowed came on a Maple Leafs power play late in the first period.

For a moneyline bet, I’m backing the Wild to secure a victory over the Flyers at home. With the moneyline currently set at -158, I’m locking in my bet on the Wild straight-up.

When it comes to a puck line pick, our choice is the Wild to secure the win and cover. Expect the Wild to dominate this one with a multi-goal win over the Flyers.

With an over/under line sitting at 5.5 goals, we like this game to surpass that mark and recommend getting a bet down on the over.

Flyers Look to Keep Rolling Against Wild in Road Showdown

The Philadelphia Flyers head to Minnesota riding a wave of momentum after back-to-back wins and a hot streak that has seen them earn points in 13 of their last 17 games (10-4-3). They’ll face a Minnesota Wild squad aiming to bounce back from a tough loss when the teams clash Saturday afternoon in Saint Paul, Minn.

Laughton’s Career Night Fuels Flyers

Flyers forward Scott Laughton has been a dependable veteran throughout his 12 seasons in Philadelphia, but his recent performance against the Detroit Red Wings was anything but routine. Laughton delivered a career-high four goals in Thursday’s 4-1 victory, including a short-handed goal and two empty-net tallies.

“Scotty’s one of those guys that it doesn’t matter where he is in the lineup or what his job is, he’s always a good spirit at the rink,” said teammate Travis Konecny. “When he’s called upon for offense, he has got a lot of skill.”

The Flyers’ top scorer, Konecny, has been consistent all season with 36 points (15 goals, 21 assists) in 30 games. Rookie Matvei Michkov also has impressed with 27 points (11 goals, 16 assists) in 28 games.

Philadelphia’s penalty kill got a boost from Laughton’s short-handed goal against Detroit, a much-needed spark after recent struggles in that area.

“We haven’t really been that great on it the last couple weeks, so it’s nice to pot one there and get the ball rolling in the right direction,” Laughton said.

Wild Looking to Regroup

Minnesota has been strong overall this season but is coming off a 7-1 drubbing at the hands of the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday. The Wild have dropped two of their last three games following a five-game win streak, and head coach John Hynes is urging his team to shake off the tough loss.

“I think we’ve had a lot of good things that have gone on for us this year,” Hynes said. “(Thursday) was an uncharacteristic night for us. … We have to get ready for Saturday.”

Star forward Kirill Kaprizov continues to shine for the Wild, leading the team with 43 points (18 goals, 25 assists) in 28 games. Matt Boldy is second with 28 points (12 goals, 16 assists) in 29 contests.

Goaltending has been a key storyline for Minnesota, as Filip Gustavsson and Marc-Andre Fleury have shared time in net. Gustavsson struggled against Edmonton, giving up five goals in two periods, while Fleury allowed two more on nine shots in relief.

Gustavsson, who is 14-5-3 with a 2.24 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage this season, may get the nod to start against Philadelphia.

Looking for a Smart Pick Tonight? Check out NHL hockey picks for tonight from our experts.

Flyers’ Goaltending Options

Philadelphia is carrying three goaltenders on its roster, with Samuel Ersson leading the group. Ersson has posted a 6-3-2 record with a 2.85 GAA and an .893 save percentage and could start against the Wild. Aleksei Kolosov, a promising rookie, made 25 saves on 26 shots in the Flyers’ recent win over Detroit, while Ivan Fedotov is third on the depth chart.

Kolosov’s work ethic has caught the attention of teammates.

“You can tell he’s a gamer, he battles hard, he fights for a lot of pucks,” forward Sean Couturier said. “He’s really athletic and never quits on pucks.”

What to Watch For

• Laughton’s Momentum: Can Laughton build on his standout performance and continue to contribute offensively?
• Kaprizov vs. Flyers’ Defense: Kaprizov remains a constant threat, and the Flyers will need to neutralize his creativity and scoring ability.
• Goaltending Duel: With both teams having question marks in net, the performance of the starting goalies could decide the game.

Outlook

The Flyers are flying high and appear to have the chemistry and grit to challenge a talented Wild team. Meanwhile, Minnesota will aim to rebound and protect its home ice. This matchup features two teams with playoff aspirations, and it promises to be an exciting battle between surging offenses and skilled playmakers.