The Carolina Hurricanes (34-18-6) will compete against the Minnesota Wild (28-24-6) in the second matchup this season on Tuesday, February 27 at 8:00 PM ET at the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The Hurricanes are favorites and come in with a moneyline at -155.

The Hurricanes are 3-2 in their previous five matchups, while currently riding a two-game losing skid. Their most recent defeat was a 3-2 shootout against the Buffalo Sabres on the road.

The team has a strong 15-11-2 road record, but their most recent road victory was against the Vegas Golden Knights on February 17. Early scoring opportunities could significantly improve their position, despite weaknesses observed in various areas.

The Hurricanes score an average of 3.28 goals per game, attempting 32.7 shots. Their power play has been effective, scoring 50 goals and allowing 29, with a current success rate of 27.5 percent, a crucial factor in this matchup.

On the defensive end, opponents average 2.74 goals and 25.4 shots per game against them, resulting in a slightly positive differential. Their penalty kill stands at 84.3 percent, slightly surpassing that of the Wild.

The Wild finally get to compete back home after playing their last three games on the road, boasting a 2-1 record and winning their last two. Their recent success was a 5-2 showing over the Seattle Kraken.

Currently at home, they boast a 14-11-4 record, potentially giving them a slight edge. Nevertheless, their defense must start strong and maintain aggression throughout the game if they want any shot at success.

The Wild have scored an average of 3.16 goals, taking 30.1 shots per game. In power plays, they have scored 46 goals but allowed 51, with a percentage of 22.5. This is slightly less appealing than what the Hurricanes offer.

Defensively, they concede 3.29 goals and face 30.5 shots per game, resulting in a slightly negative goal ratio when considering their offensive output. Their penalty kill percentage is 74.4, indicating challenges in defending against penalties.

Bookmaker has appealing NHL odds, which reveal the Carolina Hurricanes as the slight favorites (-155) while on the road. In their previous meeting last month, the Wild won 5-2 while they were on the road.

The Wild are arguably one of the more volatile teams in the league, as they can score an abundance of goals in a hurry or none at all. In addition, they can also have appealing defense and allow too many goals to catch up with.

For consistency and simplicity, the Hurricanes offer the better option to win. Their offense has been great and their defense is usually enough to support the win.