Preview of Panthers vs Wild: Prediction, Odds, and Starting Goalies for Wednesday Night Hockey

• The Florida Panthers (19-11-2) visit the Minnesota Wild (20-7-4) in a battle of top NHL teams on Wednesday
• We’ve made our Panthers vs Wild prediction for Wednesday, December 18, 2024
• Read below for Panthers vs Wild prediction and odds for tonight’s game on TNT

Two of the NHL’s hottest clubs are set to tangle as the Florida Panthers (19-11-2) head to the Xcel Energy Center to take on the Minnesota Wild (20-7-4) on Wednesday, December 18, 2024. Puck drop is scheduled for 9:30 PM Eastern Time, with national coverage on TNT.

The Panthers roll into this one as -145 road favorites, while the total sits at 5.5 goals. Can Florida overcome some key injuries to solve Minnesota’s stifling defense and red-hot netminder Marc-Andre Fleury?

Here is our Panthers vs Wild prediction for Wednesday Night Hockey.

Panthers vs Wild Prediction

I’m rolling with the Wild +125 moneyline in what should be a hard-fought battle between two elite squads. Minnesota has flat-out owned this head-to-head series lately, going 3-0-0 vs Florida since last season while outscoring them 13-5.

The Wild have been rock solid on home ice, posting an 8-5-1 mark at the Xcel Energy Center. They give up the 2nd-fewest goals per game (2.52) thanks to their tight defensive play and the stellar work of Gustavsson (14-5-3, 2.24 GAA, .922 SV%).

While the Wild struggle on special teams, they click at even strength. Stars like Kirill Kaprizov (22 goals, 25 assists) and Matt Boldy (13 goals, 16 assists) lead a balanced attack that should give Florida fits.

YOUR LEAGUE LEADER IN POINTS, KIRILL KAPRIZOV 📈 pic.twitter.com/EvnAcEc9Vn

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) December 4, 2024

The Panthers bring the league’s 5th-best offense (3.50 goals per game) but face injury concerns. Captain Aleksander Barkov is a game-time call with illness, while Sam Bennett is already ruled out. Even if Barkov plays, he likely won’t be at full strength.

With their top two centers either out or compromised, Florida must lean heavily on Sam Reinhart (20 goals, 21 assists) and Matthew Tkachuk (11 goals, 20 assists) against Minnesota’s stifling defense. Add in Sergei Bobrovsky’s recent struggles (.889 SV%), and the Panthers face an uphill battle.

The Panthers are just 2-2-0 on this road trip and have been shut out twice. Meanwhile, the Wild are firing on all cylinders and catch Florida at the perfect time. Back Minnesota to protect home ice and grab a statement win.

Wednesday NHL Pick:

• Wild Moneyline (+125 at ESPN BET)

Panthers vs Wild Odds

Florida comes in as a -145 moneyline favorite, meaning a $145 bet on the Panthers would net you a $100 profit if they get the W. Minnesota sits as a +125 home underdog, offering a potential $125 return on a $100 wager.

The Panthers are +170 to cover the -1.5 puck line, meaning they need to win by two or more goals for that ticket to cash. Meanwhile, the Wild are -215 to stay within 1.5 goals, so Minnesota backers would win $100 on a $215 bet if the Wild either win outright or lose by just one.

The total is locked at 5.5 goals, with the over at -105 and the under priced at -115. This suggests we’re in for a tight-checking, lower-scoring affair.

Odds courtesy of ESPN Bet as of December 18, 2024.

Panthers vs Wild Projected Starting Goalies

Here’s who we expect between the pipes for Wednesday’s Panthers vs Wild tilt:

Florida Panthers: Sergei Bobrovsky (14-6-1, 2.97 GAA, .889 SV%)
Bob is having a down year by his lofty standards, struggling to find his groove. The 37-year-old veteran has been lit up for four or more goals in five of his last 10 starts and sports an ugly sub-.900 save percentage.

That said, Bobrovsky has historically owned the Wild, posting a stellar 13-5-1 mark with a 2.37 GAA and .918 save percentage. He’ll need to channel some of that past magic and stand on his head to give the undermanned Panthers a fighting chance.

Minnesota Wild: Marc-Andre Fleury (6-1-1, 2.51 GAA, .909 SV%)
With Gustavsson on the shelf, “Flower” gets the nod in what will be his second start in three games. The ageless wonder has been rock solid in a backup role this season, putting together a sharp 6-1-1 record with a 2.51 GAA and .909 SV%.

The future Hall of Famer was absolutely dialed in during his last outing, turning aside 21 of 22 shots in a 4-1 win over Philly. His .955 save percentage in that one showed he’s still got plenty left in the tank at age 40.

In his illustrious career, Fleury has dominated the Panthers to the tune of an 18-10-2 record, 2.29 GAA and .922 SV%. Look for the savvy veteran to get the better of Bobrovsky in this goaltending duel.

Back the Wild as short home underdogs. With Florida missing some key pieces up front and Fleury locked in, Minnesota should be able to grind out a important win on home ice and improve upon their stellar 8-5-1 record at the Xcel Energy Center.

The Carolina Panthers are set to take on the Minnesota Wild in an exciting Wednesday night hockey matchup. Both teams are coming off strong performances in their previous games, making this game a must-watch for hockey fans.

The Panthers currently sit in second place in the Central Division with a record of 15-5-4, while the Wild are in fourth place in the West Division with a record of 14-8-1. Both teams have been playing well as of late, with the Panthers winning four of their last five games and the Wild winning three of their last four.

In terms of predictions, this game is expected to be a close one. Both teams have strong offenses and solid goaltending, so it could come down to which team can capitalize on their opportunities and make the most of their scoring chances. The Panthers have been getting strong performances from their top line of Jonathan Huberdeau, Aleksander Barkov, and Patric Hornqvist, while the Wild have been led by Kirill Kaprizov and Kevin Fiala.

As for the odds, the Panthers are currently favored to win this game with odds of -120, while the Wild are underdogs with odds of +110. This means that the Panthers are seen as the more likely team to come out on top, but anything can happen in hockey and the Wild have shown that they are capable of pulling off upsets.

In terms of starting goalies, it is expected that Sergei Bobrovsky will get the nod for the Panthers, while Cam Talbot will likely start for the Wild. Both goalies have been playing well this season, with Bobrovsky posting a .907 save percentage and Talbot posting a .920 save percentage.

Overall, this game is shaping up to be an exciting matchup between two talented teams. With strong offenses, solid goaltending, and plenty of skill on both sides, fans can expect a fast-paced and competitive game on Wednesday night. Be sure to tune in to see who comes out on top in this Panthers vs Wild showdown.