Wild secure playoff berth, fueled by blockbuster trade and record-setting performances from Hughes, Boldy, and Kaprizov. A familiar foe awaits.
ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Minnesota Wild (42-21-12) is heading back to the Stanley Cup playoffs after a 4-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks (22-45-8).
The win matched the second-fewest games to secure postseason play in franchise history during an 82-game schedule (74 GP in 2016-17, 75 GP in 2002-03 and 75 GP in 2021-22).
This will mark the sixth time in the last seven seasons that the Wild have made the playoffs and the 12th in the last 14 years, which is the most in the NHL.
In those years, the Wild have only made it to the second round twice. This will be the 15th season in the Wild's 25-year history that they have made the playoffs, which includes 11 first-round exits.
They have won four playoff rounds in their career, half of them came in their first-ever trip to the playoffs in 2003.
But this year does feel a little different. Especially after the Wild pulled off the blockbuster trade in December to acquire Quinn Hughes.
Ever since the deal, the Wild are 24-12-7 since he has debuted. He has four goals and 46 assists in 43 games.
Hughes, 26, now holds the fewest games to 50 career points with the Wild, besting the previous mark established by Brian Rolston (49 GP). Hughes required nearly half the games than Ryan Suter (83 GP) who previously owned the benchmark among defensemen.
The 5-foot-10 defenseman is now two points away from claiming the single-season franchise records among Minnesota defenseman after recording the single-season assist record among defenders.
On the same night that Hughes recorded his milestones, Matt Boldy and Kirill Kaprizov scored their 40th goals on the season.
They became the first pair of teammates to hit the 40-goal benchmark in the same game since Theo Fleury and Robert Reichel did so with Calgary on April 13, 1994 (31 years ago).
Only one other team in the NHL has two 40-goal scorers.
The Dallas Stars, whom the Wild will face in the first round. Wyatt Johnston (40) and Jason Robertson (40) are the Stars' scorers.
Minnesota has faced the Stars twice in its playoff history. They lost both series. The latest was in 2023 when the Wild went up 2-1 but lost the next four games. In 2016, they also lost in six games and were outscored 42-31.
Nonetheless, the Wild will look to put the history behind them and get over the hump once and for all.
"I think it's just try to enjoy in the process. Keep playing right away where you need to play and just be happy. It's hockey and we make playoffs," Kaprizov said postgame. "It's nice. It's best time of the year."
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