Sharks Carry a Losing Skid Into Minnesota
San Jose arrives searching for answers at even strength, with Celebrini headlining a thinned group against the Central Division leaders.
Written before the game
The Minnesota Wild sit first in the Central Division at 11-3-3 with 25 points. The San Jose Sharks arrive at 7-9-1 and 15 points, losers of three straight and 3-6-1 over their last ten. On paper, it is a division leader against a team trying to stop a slide.
The chances tell the same story. Over their last ten games, the Wild have created more than they give up, averaging 4.27 expected goals (how many goals their chances were worth) against 2.75 allowed. San Jose has flipped that, generating 3.16 while giving up 4.17. The shot attempts lean the same way: Minnesota averages 63.9 attempts for and 53 against, while the Sharks average 58.5 for and 65.2 against.
For San Jose to tilt the ice, it would need to close that gap in its own end, with Macklin Celebrini at the heart of any push. For Minnesota, it looks like what has worked all along: more chances made than allowed.
The Wild are 4-0-1 on home ice, and San Jose is 4-4-1 away. San Jose's goal difference sits at minus 17, Minnesota's at plus 18.
