Minnesota Wild fans have seen their team go on hot streaks before, but it’s fair to say that the Wild find themselves in uncharted territory at the NHL’s All-Star Break.
Minnesota’s 69 points leads the Western Conference and is the second-most in the NHL – behind only Washington’s 72.
Fans in The State of Hockey aren’t the only ones taking notice, either. While nobody wins a Stanley Cup in January – Pro Hockey Reference gives the Wild the best chance to win the cup this spring at 14.9 percent.
Some other numbers of note, from the group:
- The Wild have a 100 percent chance of making the playoffs
- A 92.6 percent chance of winning the division
- An 80.2 percent chance of getting the number one seed
- A 28.8 percent chance of reaching the Stanley Cup Finals
Sports Insights is also taking notice of the Wild. The group uses betting odds to determine which teams are most likely to reach the Stanley Cup Finals and the most likely matchup would put Washington up against Minnesota.
Most likely #NHL Stanley Cup Final
WAS/MIN +1775
WAS/CHI +1850
CLB/MIN +2035
CLB/CHI +2120
MTL/MIN +2140
MTL/CHI +2230
PIT/MIN +2245— Action Labs (@ActionLabs_HQ) January 29, 2017
Of course the big question is can the Wild sustain it? In previous seasons when Minnesota has gotten hot, they have been hit by stretches where they have played just as poorly – leaving them on the road in the post-season.
If they are able to keep up this season’s success, it could mean the top seed in the Western Conference and home-ice advantage at the Xcel Energy Center throughout the playoffs.
