Wild vs. Oilers: Grit, Goaltending, and a Tight Central Division Race
Jon Hynes said it best after Minnesota’s last win: “They’re not all gonna be Picassos.” And if you watched either the Wild or Oilers in their most recent outings, you’d agree-these weren’t masterpieces, but they were wins. And in the NHL’s long grind of an 82-game season, that’s what matters.
Let’s start in Edmonton, where the Oilers pulled off a chaotic, come-from-behind 4-3 overtime win against the San Jose Sharks. It was a game that had everything: defensive lapses, offensive surges, and a whole lot of emotion.
The kind of game that leaves coaches reaching for the antacids and fans clinging to the edge of their seats. But in the end, two points are two points.
Minnesota, meanwhile, handled business in Calgary with a 4-1 win, but the score sheet might be doing them a few favors. The Wild were outshot 13-3 in the first period and registered just three high-danger chances at 5-on-5 all game, per Natural Stat Trick.
The difference? Filip Gustavsson.
The netminder was rock solid, turning away 29 shots and anchoring a performance that was more opportunistic than dominant.
“We got the goaltending when we needed it,” Hynes said postgame. “The penalty kill came through, and we capitalized on the power play.
We found a way to finish. That’s a good sign-even if we all know it wasn’t our best.”
Central Division: A Three-Team Tug-of-War
That win nudged the Wild past the Dallas Stars-at least temporarily-for second in the Central Division. It’s been a tight race lately, with all three top teams hovering around .500 over their last 10 games.
Since the Wild last faced Edmonton in early December, they’ve gone 9-5-5. Not exactly a heater, but certainly enough to keep them in the mix for home-ice advantage.
Minnesota’s been navigating injuries, too. Jonas Brodin missed his eighth straight game in Calgary, and Zach Bogosian’s been out for 12.
But they’ve leaned on Quinn Hughes to soak up minutes and keep the defensive structure intact. Hughes is doing more than just holding down the blue line-he’s thriving.
Hughes and Bouchard: Blue Line Battle
Hughes is riding a seven-game point and assist streak, tying a franchise record alongside Jared Spurgeon and Ryan Suter. With 25 assists in just 23 games for the Wild, he’s matched legends like Paul Coffey and Sergei Zubov for the fastest blueliners to hit that mark with a new team.
But if you’re looking for the hottest defenseman in the league right now, look no further than Edmonton’s Evan Bouchard. He’s got 11 points in his last four games and leads all NHL defensemen in scoring following Thursday night’s action. Against Minnesota specifically, Bouchard has 11 career points-he’s been a consistent thorn in the Wild’s side.
Kaprizov Cooking, Eriksson Ek Locking In
Kirill Kaprizov is back to doing Kaprizov things. Over his last seven games, he’s been held under two points just once, tallying 14 total in that stretch.
He just crossed the 60-point mark for the fourth time in his career, tying Marian Gaborik for the most such seasons in franchise history. The Wild’s star winger is heating up at the right time-and if he keeps this pace, that rumored $17 million price tag might not seem so wild after all.
Joel Eriksson Ek has quietly been just as crucial. With 20 points in his last 20 games, he’s become the kind of two-way force coaches dream about. Expect him to be glued to Connor McDavid tonight-Hynes will want his best shutdown center tracking the Oilers’ captain every shift.
McDavid, for his part, had an eight-game point streak against the Wild snapped back on December 2nd, when Minnesota blanked the Oilers 1-0. He’s only managed one point in the two head-to-head matchups this season. You can bet he’s looking to change that in the series finale.
Goaltending Watch: Gustavsson In, Wallstedt a Wild Card?
Jesper Wallstedt was once billed as Minnesota’s goalie of the future-and maybe still is-but his recent numbers have cooled. He’s posted sub-.900 save percentages in five of his last eight appearances, though he did snap a three-game losing streak on January 27.
There’s been chatter about his name surfacing in trade talks, and not just from message boards-league insiders are paying attention. But make no mistake: GM Bill Guerin’s eyes are on the postseason.
If Wallstedt can’t help now, he might become a chip to bolster a win-now roster.
Around the Roster: Notables and Milestones
Matt Boldy returned from a short injury stint and hasn’t missed a beat, with two goals and two assists in his last three games. He’s sitting on 299 career points-one shy of a milestone that feels like it’s coming any shift now.
Ryan Hartman hit the 700-game mark Thursday night, a testament to his durability and versatility. Meanwhile, Trent Frederic’s goalless drought hit 30 games, the third-longest of his career. That said, his line with Curtis Lazar and Mattias Janmark looked sharp last game and could be finding some chemistry at just the right time.
Special teams are trending in the right direction for the Wild. They went 1-for-2 on the power play against Calgary and are inching toward a top-five ranking league-wide. That’s a huge development for a team that’s often relied on 5-on-5 grind-it-out hockey.
Schedule Quirks and Final Showdown
This game marks the end of a quick one-game road trip for the Wild. After tonight, they’re back home to face the Canadiens on Monday before heading to Nashville midweek.
Edmonton, on the other hand, is wrapping up a seven-game homestand. They’re 4-2 so far and looking to make it four wins in a row with a victory tonight.
It’s the final matchup of the season between these two teams-and with both clubs jostling for playoff positioning, it’s more than just another game on the calendar. The Oilers have found ways to win ugly.
The Wild are doing the same. Tonight, we’ll see which team can paint a better picture-or at least sketch out two more points.