As the NHL playoffs loom, the Minnesota Wild are poised to secure their spot sooner than usual, with a chance to clinch a postseason berth against Boston on Saturday. Even if the game doesn't go their way, the Wild have alternative paths to the playoffs. This marks a significant moment for Minnesota, whose roster strength suggests they could finally break their streak of early exits.
Minnesota Wild Clinching Scenarios (March 28th)
The Wild have two routes to punch their playoff ticket: the straightforward way or a more complex path.
The Easy Way
The simplest scenario is a win over Boston, which would guarantee Minnesota a playoff spot. However, this doesn't secure a specific seed, so the Wild will still need to work for a Top 3 position, possibly overtaking Dallas for home ice advantage in the first round.
The Hard Way
Should Minnesota lose to Boston, all hope isn't lost. They can still clinch, provided a few other outcomes fall in their favor.
The key here is that the Wild must earn at least one point, meaning a loss must come in overtime or a shootout. If that happens, three of the following results need to occur:
- Sharks lose to the Blue Jackets
- Predators lose to the Canadiens
- Kings lose in regulation to the Mammoth
- Kraken lose in regulation to the Sabres
- Knights lose in regulation to the Capitals
It's crucial that the Kings, Knights, or Kraken lose in regulation, while the Sharks and Predators can lose by any means. Minnesota needs any combination of three of these outcomes, contingent on earning a point against Boston.
A win would be ideal, not only for clinching but also for closing the gap on Dallas for the No. 2 seed. With eight games remaining, including a crucial matchup against the Stars, Minnesota's playoff entry seems all but certain-barring an unprecedented collapse. The real focus should be on securing that coveted second seed.