NHL Predictions: Chicago Blackhawks vs Minnesota Wild, March 19th

Tonight, the Chicago Blackhawks hit the road for the second of back-to-back games against the Minnesota Wild. Welcome back to this edition of NHL Predictions! Each day, our writers here at Last Word On Hockey analyze the day’s games and provide in-depth analysis. We break down the key matchups, storylines, and stats, then make predictions based on how they might play out. Don’t forget to check out more NHL Predictions, as our writers continue this series throughout the 2025-26 season.

NHL Predictions with the Chicago Blackhawks and the Minnesota Wild

Time: 7:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)

Season Series: Minnesota leads 3-0

How to Watch TV: ESPN+, HULU

Location: Grand Casino Arena

Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks take on Kirill Kaprizov and the Minnesota Wild.

Each of the first three meetings between these two clubs has ended in a 4-3 Minnesota victory in extra time. The most recent outing on Tuesday night was yet another hard-fought decision, which saw Minnesota come out victorious. The first period saw the Wild jump out to a 3-1 lead. Ryan Hartman, Marcus Johansson, and Vladimir Tarasenko netted the three Wild goals, while Louis Crevier got one back for the Hawks. Chicago hung in, thanks to a good performance from Spencer Knight, and was able to even the score. Ryan Greene scored in the second, while Frank Nazar tied the score late in the third period. Mats Zuccarello eventually won the game in overtime, securing the victory for Minnesota. The Wild are seeking the season series sweep tonight.

Blackhawks Hoping to Salvage Season Series

It is hard to overstate how tough this season series has been for the Hawks. As mentioned, each game has gone past regulation, and the Hawks have battled to earn just one point. However, the team deserves much more. The game in January was the biggest example of this, as the Hawks jumped out to a 3-0 lead thanks to goals from Teuvo Teravainen, Ryan Donato, and Ilya Mikheyev. They squandered that lead and failed to collect the second point. With how well the Hawks have done against good teams, they can certainly compete with Minnesota. For such a young group, now without Nick Foligno and other veterans, seeing their efforts be translated to wins is important moving forward.

The Hawks sit nine points out of a Stanley Cup Playoff spot and, barring a massive late-season win streak, will not be in the postseason for the sixth-consecutive season. That being said, many positives can be taken from their recent play. Namely, Frank Nazar has gotten hot. He, along with Connor Bedard, had two points on Tuesday, and is finding his groove since returning from injury. Additionally, after a tough stretch before the Olympic break, Artyom Levshunov has found his groove. He is playing much more confidently and is being trusted with hefty minutes. This play from their youngsters is a great sign for the Hawks moving forward.

Wild Looking to String Together Wins

The Wild are looking to win back-to-back games for just the second time since the Olympic break. While they have not played poorly, two points tonight would go a long way in catching the Dallas Stars. In recent games, some of Minnesota’s role players have stepped up in a big way. Brock Faber collected three assists on Tuesday, while Johansson also had a three-point night. In the last five games, Tarasenko leads the way with six points, while Matt Boldy has three goals in that span. However, centre Joel Eriksson Ek was out of the lineup on Tuesday, so his status for tonight is up in the air. As always, be sure to check social media before puck drop for lineups and starting goaltender information. 

Back-to-back wins for the Wild are big for the team as they look to regain their dominance heading into the postseason. Tonight, their top players are going to have to step up to secure the series sweep. Quinn Hughes has not had a point in the last two games, while Kaprizov has just one assist in the last three. These two in particular should have big nights in this one. Gustavsson started on Tuesday, so Jesper Wallstedt may see the net tonight.

Game Prediction

Expect a motivated Hawks team tonight. There should be a level of desperation to salvage a game in this series. Expect the Hawks to pull one out tonight.

Prediction: Hawks win 4-3 (overtime)

Prop Bets

Blackhawks Moneyline (+205)

Over 6.5 Goals (+114)

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