The Minnesota Wild hosted the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday afternoon, December 20, to start another quick homestand. They got a boost in their lineup when the majority of their injured players returned in Vinnie Hinostroza, Marcus Johansson, Jonas Brodin, Jake Middleton and Mats Zuccarello. They were still without Zach Bogosian. The oilmen were without Alec RegulaTristan Jarry, Jack Roslovic, Connor Clattenburg, Jake Walman, Kasperi Kapanen and Noah Philip.
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Filip Gustavsson was in net for the Wild, and Calvin Pickard was in net for the Oilers. The game started in the Wild’s favor, and although the Oilers fought back, the Wild held their ground and took the victory 5-2. This moved the Wild’s record to 22-9-5 and the Oilers to 17-13-6.
Summary of the game
The Wild got on the scoreboard first with a goal from Matt Boldy just a few minutes into the opening period. He received no help and gave his team a 1-0 lead. Boldy scored again midway through the period to give his team a 2–0 lead; that time the goal was a power play. Quinn Hughes and Mats Zuccarello assisted him.
The Oilers fired back with a goal from Andrew Mangiapane, bringing their team back within one. Evan Bouchard and Leon Draisaitl assisted him. That goal gave the Oilers more momentum as they scored another goal five minutes later, courtesy of Connor McDavid on the power play. Draisaitl and Zach Hyman assisted him to make it 2-2.
The Wild scored one more goal before the end of the period and regained the lead. Ryan Hartman scored the goal and was assisted by Jake Middleton and Zuccarello to make it 3-2. That was the last goal of the period, and the Wild took the lead in the second.
There were chances for both sides, but neither side could get one past the goalkeeper, and the second ended scoreless, allowing the Wild to take the lead in the final period. The Wild also started the scoring in the third period with a goal from Vladimir Tarasenko. Yakov Trenin recorded the only assist to put their team up 4-2. The Wild added one more towards the end of the match, an empty-net goal scored by Nico Sturm, completing the win 5–2. Tarasenko and Johansson assisted him.
The Wild will stay home to complete their home back-to-back on Sunday night, December 21, when they face the Colorado Avalanche. The Oilers head home to host the Vegas Golden Knights to complete their road/home back-to-back on Sunday as well.
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