Wild vs. Maple Leafs: A matchup of two of NHL’s hottest teams
By Tim Johnson
17-6-1. Saturday, Dec. 4. Maple Leafs -1.5 . 98. 6 p.m. . 116. Bally Sports North . 16-6-1
The Minnesota Wild have won five straight games — the team’s best streak of the season and a run that has propelled the team to near the top of the Western Conference standings.
Now the Wild, who trail Calgary by a point for the Western Conference lead, host the Toronto Maple Leafs — a team that has been just as hot — in a showdown on Saturday night to close out a five-game homestand.
Minnesota is 5-0-1 since Nov. 21 and the team’s 33 points after 23 games is the best start in the franchise’s history.
A buzz around town 🐝#mnwild | #DeterMNation pic.twitter.com/c6DU1nWQ38
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) December 3, 2021
The Maple Leafs have won five straight games and are tied with the Florida Panthers for first place in the Atlantic Division and the most points in the Eastern Conference. Toronto has lost twice in its past 17 games.
John Tavares has a team-high 25 points and Auston Matthews has 13 goals for a Maple Leafs team that has won seven straight road games.
Minnesota has outscored its four previous home opponents by a 28-9 margin and is 9-2-0 at Xcel Energy Center this season — good enough to tie for third in the NHL in home wins.
Ryan Hartman had a goal and three points on Thursday against New Jersey to extend his point streak to five games. It is the longest on the team this season. Kirill Kaprizov had a goal and two assists in the same game and is riding a four-game point streak. He has six goals and 17 points over the last eight games.
Kirill Kaprizov recorded three or more points in a game for the fourth time this season – only three players have more such performances: Leon Draisaitl (9), Alex Ovechkin (6) and Connor McDavid (6).#NHLStats: https://t.co/ydedYNPcpA pic.twitter.com/DCQYm6uAI2
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) December 3, 2021
Saturday is the Wild’s first game against Toronto since Dec. 31, 2019. Minnesota is 9-4 in its last 13 matchups with the Maple Leafs and holds a 7-4 all-time record in St. Paul.
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Betting odds
The Wild vs. Maple Leafs odds on WynnBET has Toronto as a 1.5 goal favorite at the Xcel Energy Center. The Maple Leafs are listed as -118 favorite on the moneyline with Minnesota the home underdog at +108 The total goals is set at an over/under of six.
Upcoming Wild schedule
Tuesday, Dec. 7: @Edmonton, 8 p.m., CST
Thursday, Dec. 9: @San Jose, 9 p.m., CST
Saturday, Dec. 11: @ L.A. Kings, 9:30 p.m., CST