SAINT PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Wild takes the ice in Saint Paul tonight, hoping to take down the Calgary Flames on the 19th annual Hockey Day Minnesota. All fans in attendance at tonight’s game will receive a Minnesota Wild wearable hoodie flag in celebration of Hockey Day Minnesota 2025.
The Wild is coming off of a tough shutout loss against Utah Hockey Club. The loss came as an unwelcome surprise to spectators who anticipated a restored and reinvigorated Wild team following the return of Captain D Jared Spurgeon and LW Kirill Kaprizov, but those hopes were for naught and the team was crushed 0-4.
Wild Record: 28-16-4, 60 points, 3rd in Central Division
Flames Record: 23-16-7, 43 points, 4th in Pacific Division
2024-25 Series Record: 0-0-1
All-Time Wild Record: 44-44-17 (26-17-10 at Xcel Energy Center)
The Wild was shut out 4-0 by the Utah Hockey Club on Thursday night. Spurgeon and Kaprizov returned to the lineup and G Filip Gustavsson returned from illness. Gustavsson saved 25-of-29 shots on goal.
Calgary defeated the Buffalo Sabres 5-2 on Thursday night. LW Jonathan Huberdeau found the back of the net first for Calgary. Buffalo answered with their only two goals of the game, but were quickly silenced by C Nazem Kadri when he netted a goal off the backhand to even the score. LW Jakob Pelletier brought Calgary back into the lead with a tip-in off of D Brayden Pachal and Kadri. C Yegor Sharangovich scored the next goal for Calgary, bringing the game to 4-2. C Mikael Backlund put the final nail in Buffalo’s coffin with an empty-net goal. G Dustin Wolf saved an astonishing 32-of-34 shots on goal.
UTA at MIN | Recap
Calgary secured a 4-3 shootout victory in the series-opening game at the Saddledome (11/23).
LW Matt Boldy (0-2=2) and C Marco Rossi (1-1=2) led the Wild with two points each. LW Marcus Johansson (1- 0=1) also scored for Minnesota. Gustavsson saved 28-of-31 shots faced for the Wild.
C Martin Pospisil (1-0=1), C Kevin Rooney (1-0=1) and Sharangovich (1-0=1) each scored for Calgary. G Dan Vladar stopped 20-of-23 shots faced to earn the win for Calgary
Activated F Kirill Kaprizov and D Jared Spurgeon from Injured Reserve
Reassigned D David Jiricek to Iowa
Reassigned F Brendan Gaunce to Iowa
Reassigned G Dylan Ferguson to Iowa
Recalled G Dylan Ferguson from Iowa under emergency conditions
Placed D Jonas Brodin on Injured Reserve
Converted D David Jiricek’s emergency recall to a regular recall
Recalled F Devin Shore from Iowa
Activated F Jakub Lauko from Injured Reserve
Reassigned F Ben Jones and F Devin Shore to Iowa
Recalled F Brendan Gaunce and F Liam Ohgren from Iowa
Placed F Kirill Kaprizov on Long-Term Injured Reserve
Placed F Marcus Johansson on Injured Reserve
Recalled F Devin Shore from Iowa
Reassigned F Devin Shore to Iowa and recalled D David Jiricek from Iowa
Placed F Jakub Lauko on Long-Term Injured Reserve retroactive to Dec. 14
Signed G Dylan Ferguson to a one-year, two-way contract
Activated D Jake Middleton from Long-Term Injured Reserv
Reassigned F Travis Boyd, F Brendan Gaunce and D Carson Lambos to Iowa
Recalled F Travis Boyd (emergency), F Brendan Gaunce (emergency) and D Carson Lambos (regular) from Iowa
Recalled F Brendan Gaunce and D Carson Lambos from Iowa
Placed F Kirill Kaprizov on Injured Reserve
To view recent transactions, visit wild.com/transactions.
Jonas Brodin: lower-body injury (seven games missed)
Marcus Johansson: concussion (three game missed)
For more information on today’s matchup, check out the game notes below.
