Islanders, Wild Face Off Before 4 Nations Break

The New York Islanders and Minnesota Wild are set to face off in a critical game Saturday night in Saint Paul, Minnesota, just before the 4 Nations Face-Off break. Both teams are coming off close contests; the Wild recently snapped a two-game losing streak with a 2-1 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes, while the Islanders lost 4-3 to the Winnipeg Jets, despite having won eight of their last ten games. The Islanders' Bo Horvat highlighted the team's effort in their recent loss, indicating they performed well in the first and third periods but struggled in the second. In contrast, the Wild's coach praised goaltender Filip Gustavsson for his strong performance against the Hurricanes. The matchup is notable as it marks the first meeting of the season between the two teams, with Minnesota holding a slight edge in overall performance this season. Fans can expect a competitive game, with the Wild favored by -1.5 points.