BOSTON – The Minnesota Wild will be on the road to face the Boston Bruins at TD Garden on Tuesday night, February 4, with significant playoff positioning at stake for both teams. The game is slated to start at 7 p.m. EST.
The Wild, sporting a 31-18-4 record, are coming off a heavy 6-0 loss to the Ottawa Senators, where goalie Filip Gustavsson found himself under relentless pressure and allowed six goals. Minnesota is currently holding onto the last guaranteed playoff spot within the Central Division, just two points above the Colorado Avalanche.
To help bolster their lineup, the Wild welcome back defenseman Jonas Brodin, who returns from Long-Term Injured Reserve, and forward Marcus Johansson, returning from Injured Reserve. Brodin is expected to pair with Jared Spurgeon, and Johansson will join Marco Rossi and Marcus Foligno on the ice. Marc-Andre Fleury will start as the goaltender, riding high after delivering a stellar 19-save shutout performance previously.
Meanwhile, the Bruins are aiming for back-to-back victories following their 6-3 triumph over the New York Rangers. With their record standing at 26-22-6, Boston is just one point behind both the Detroit Red Wings and the Columbus Blue Jackets for a Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. Interim head coach Joe Sacco has expressed hope of building momentum from their last game, focusing on aspects of production and discipline.
Speaking about their upcoming challenge, Bruins' captain Brad Marchand noted, “You definitely have the opportunity. We’re playing some very important games and some really good teams, too.”
Boston will also see the return of forward Mark Kastelic, who will replace Cole Koepke, with Jeremy Swayman set to start between the pipes. Swayman will look to improve his 3.03 goals-against average (GAA) and .895 save percentage as he aims to stave off the Wild’s offensive threats.
“Can we build off what we did last game? Can we move forward in the right direction?” queried Sacco, stressing the importance of teamwork and consistency heading down the stretch. “There were things we really liked and those are the things we want to build on.”
Historically, the Wild have fared relatively well against the Bruins, holding an 18-9-0-5 record against them. This includes key stats showing Minnesota scoring averages at 2.88 goals per game against Boston’s 2.76, with the Wild also posting stronger overall numbers on the road at 20-6-3.
Among key players to watch for the Wild are Marco Rossi, leading the team with 46 points, and Matt Boldy, with 45 points. Boldy has enjoyed considerable success this season and is predicted to make noticeable contributions this evening after receiving betting props highlighting possible outcomes for points and assists.
"Boldy has gone over his points prop bet 27 times this season,” noted team analysts, pointing out his solid power-play contributions as well.
On the Bruins' side, star players such as David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand continue to lead the team's efforts with 65 and 42 points respectively. The pressure to convert these opportunities is palpable, as the looming playoff berths depend significantly on their performance against fellow contenders.
The stakes are high as both teams vie for their playoff dreams; the Wild and Bruins are set to clash head-to-head, and it’s certainly promising to be a thrilling game.
For fans wondering how to catch the action live, the game will be available on NESN and FanDuel Sports Network North. Streaming options include FuboTV, which currently offers promotional trials.
With the latest fortunes and rosters analyzed, both teams will surely be eager to secure important points on the road to the playoffs.