Florida Panthers vs Minnesota Wild Picks and Predictions October 22nd 2024

The Wild and Panthers are set to face off at 6:30 ET on ESPN+. The Panthers will host the game at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, FL. The over/under goal line for this matchup is currently at 6 goals, and the Panthers are favored by -1.5 vs. the Wild.

Minnesota vs. Florida Key Information

• Teams: Wild at Panthers
• Where: Amerant Bank Arena Sunrise
• Date: Tuesday, October 22nd
• Betting Odds FLA -148 | MIN +125 O/U 6

The Wild Can Win If…

With a 3-1 win over the Blue Jackets, the Wild improved to 3-0-2 this season. Minnesota covered the puck line as -1.5 goal favorites, and the total of 4 goals fell short of the 6.5 set before the game.

Three different players scored for the Wild, who kept Columbus off the board until 18:35 in the third period. Marco Rossi opened the scoring at 12:40 in the first period, and Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello added goals in the third.

In their 3-1 win over Columbus, the Wild fired 35 shots on goal but only netted three times. Mats Zuccarello scored his third goal of the season, while Kirill Kaprizov added his second, and Marco Rossi found the net for the second time this year.

Kaprizov also picked up his sixth assist on Zuccarello’s goal. The Wild had 22 giveaways in the game and scored their second goal on a power play.

Defensively, the Wild will look to carry over their previous performance, where they allowed just 1 goal to Columbus. Filip Gustavsson made 23 saves, posting a 95.8% save percentage. The Wild’s defense also finished with 4 takeaways and 13 hits.

• Over their last three games, the Wild have gone 2-1 straight up. In these games, they have a 3-0 record vs the puck line and an over-under mark of 0-3.
• Minnesota has put together a record of 5-5 in their last ten games (regular season). In these matchups, they ended with an puck line record of 5-5 and an over-under mark of 5-5.

The Panthers Can Win If…

Florida improved to 4-2-1 with a 4-3 overtime win against the Golden Knights. The Panthers were favored on the puck line, but didn’t cover. The total for the game was set at 5.5 goals, and the teams combined for 7.

All four of Florida’s goals came from different players. They trailed 1-0 after the first period, but Sam Reinhart tied it up at 18:51 in the second. Gustav Forsling scored the game-winner at 15:17 in overtime.

Carolina fired 49 shots on goal in their 4-3 overtime win against Vegas, with Gustav Forsling netting his second goal of the season in OT. Eetu Luostarinen added his third goal, while Sam Bennett scored his fourth on a power play. Sam Reinhart, who opened the Panthers’ scoring in the second period, now has five goals this season.

Reinhart also picked up his seventh assist on Forsling’s game-winner. Bennett’s assist on the OT goal was his third of the season. Anton Lundell contributed two assists, bringing his total to four this year, and Aaron Ekblad added two more, giving him three assists so far.

Defensively, the Panthers will look to improve after allowing the first goal just 33 seconds into the first period and another 7:30 into the third. Sergei Bobrovsky made 23 saves with an 88.5% save percentage, while the Panthers’ defense added 5 takeaways and 17 hits.

• Spanning across their last three games, Florida have gone 2-1. However, they have only gone 1-2 vs. the puck line over this stretch. Their over-under record in these three games was 2-1.
• Across Florida’s last ten regular season games, their record sits at 5-5. Their record against the puck line in this stretch is 3-7 to go along with an over-under mark of 7-3.

The Lean

When making a moneyline pick, my choice is the Panthers to come out with a win against the Wild while playing at home. Considering the moneyline odds at -148, I’m placing my bet on the Panthers to win outright.

For a puck line pick, we are going with the Panthers to win and cover. Look for the Panthers to win this one by multiple goals over the Wild.

If you’re looking at the over/under line set at 6 goals, our prediction is that this game will exceed that mark, and we strongly advise placing a bet on the over.

Road-Warrior Wild Set to Visit Champion Panthers

The Minnesota Wild are in the midst of a challenging stretch, navigating a seven-game road trip early in the season. After a strong start to their journey, they continue the trip on Tuesday night with a tough matchup against the reigning Stanley Cup champions, the Florida Panthers, in Sunrise, Florida.

The Wild are off to an impressive start, going 2-0-1 on the road trip so far and 3-0-2 overall this season. Their latest win came in a 3-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday, where they didn’t allow a goal until the final 1:25 of the game. Minnesota is one of just five teams in NHL history to have not trailed in regulation through their first five games of a season, a testament to their consistent play and defensive focus.

Minnesota’s defense has been rock-solid, with Gustavsson crediting his teammates for making him comfortable in net. “We trust each other back there, and everyone is doing their part of the job,” he added.

Wild Defense and Grit

Wild defenseman Jake Middleton praised the team’s gritty mentality, describing their style of play as “junkyard dogs.” That aggressive, hard-nosed mentality has helped them stay competitive even with a long road ahead.

The Wild are also starting to get healthier. Forwards Marcus Johansson (lower body) and Joel Eriksson Ek (broken nose) both returned to action on Saturday, with Eriksson Ek playing with a protective face shield. Meanwhile, forward Ryan Hartman (upper body) could make his return on Tuesday after participating in practice on Monday.

Minnesota’s top scorer, star forward Kirill Kaprizov, leads the way with eight points (two goals, six assists) through five games. The Wild will look to him and their gritty defense to carry them against a tough opponent.

Florida Panthers’ Key Player: Sam Reinhart

The Panthers, powered by Sam Reinhart, are looking to build off their own strong start. Reinhart leads the Panthers with five goals and seven assists, giving him 12 points—tied for the NHL lead. The forward has been in red-hot form, earning the NHL’s First Star of the Week honors on Monday after recording four goals and five assists in four games.

Reinhart is coming off a career year where he scored 57 goals, finishing second in the league, and posted a career-high 94 points. He also leads the NHL with two short-handed goals this season, highlighting his all-around ability.

However, the Panthers are dealing with some notable absences. Star forwards Aleksander Barkov (leg) and Matthew Tkachuk (illness) have each missed five straight games. Despite those losses, Florida has managed to stay competitive, largely thanks to Reinhart’s exceptional play.

Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky has been solid in net for the Panthers, posting a 3-1-1 record with a 2.95 goals-against average and an .896 save percentage through five starts.

Key Matchups

Filip Gustavsson vs. Sam Reinhart

Gustavsson has been rock-solid in net for Minnesota, but he’ll face a significant challenge in stopping Reinhart, one of the league’s hottest players.

Minnesota Defense vs. Florida’s Offense

The Wild’s defense has been stout, but they’ll need to be on high alert against a dynamic Panthers team, especially with Reinhart leading the charge.

Special Teams Battle

Florida’s Reinhart has already scored two short-handed goals this season, so Minnesota’s power play will need to be sharp and cautious.

Game Outlook

The Wild have been excellent on the road and will look to continue their strong start, while the Panthers, despite some key absences, have been bolstered by Reinhart’s outstanding play. This game will likely come down to whether Minnesota’s disciplined defense can stifle Florida’s offense, particularly Reinhart.

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Prediction

Expect a closely fought contest with both teams showing strong defensive play. However, Minnesota’s resilience and Gustavsson’s hot start in goal could be the difference.

Wild 3, Panthers 2 (OT)