ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Wild learned Monday night that their chances improve dramatically if they actually hit the net.
The Wild were so off-target in the first two periods against the New Jersey Devils that they would have hospitalized more than a dozen of their fans if the glass wasn’t attached. We’re talking missed nets that were six, 10, 15 feet off the mark. Vladimir Tarasenko missed a wide-open net. So did Matt Boldy. Mats Zuccarello fired one from point-blank range that nearly hit the corner of the rink.
Facing the worst team in the NHL since Nov. 29 and one that seemed to be unraveling with seven losses in its past 10, including a 9-0 loss last week against the New York Islanders, the Wild managed to lower the blistering temperature in Newark by giving up a tie-breaking goal in the waning seconds of the second period and another three in a horrific third en route to a 5-2 loss at Grand Casino Arena.
It was only their second regulation loss in 18 home games (12-2-4).
“I mean, if you sat there and complained every time you shot it and it didn’t go in, you’d have a long, frustrating career,” said Boldy, the Wild’s leading goal scorer.
The game was billed as the third-ever Hughes Bowl, featuring recently acquired Quinn Hughes with the Wild and younger brothers Jack and Luke Hughes with the Devils. But it was Dougie Hamilton (scratched against the Winnipeg Jets the previous day), Ondrej Palát (who played 6 1/2 minutes in Winnipeg) and Jacob Markström (who had lost five of his previous seven and gave up nine on Long Island) who completely unlocked the game during the third period.
Hamilton set up two Jesper Bratt goals 21 seconds apart. Palát, who hadn’t scored in his previous 19 games, scored his second goal of the game soon after. Markstrom finished with 20 saves.
It was just one of those nights for the Wild, who didn’t give up a shot in the first 10 minutes yet saw that one squeeze between Jesper Wallstedt’s wickets. The Wild missed the net 16 times in the first two periods, and some of them were the kind of missed opportunities you simply don’t recover from.
The Wild’s only goals came from Ryan Hartman after a two-minute offensive-zone shift by Quinn Hughes and Brock Faber that included a full line change of forwards, then Marcus Foligno on a power play in the final seconds with the Wild down four.
But the turning point came when the Wild coughed up the go-ahead goal with 7 1/2 seconds left in the second period, on an extremely sloppy shift that started with a poor line change and ended with Foligno and Jake Middleton losing battles behind the net.
After getting, as Foligno said, “slapped,” the Wild fell to 4-2-3 since the NHL’s holiday break and have won once in their past five (1-2-2).
🚨 HUGHESBOWL UPDATE: pic.twitter.com/KjlGo5t1ll
— NHL (@NHL) January 13, 2026
Hughes Bowl 3 ends with another Devils win
Jack and Luke Hughes improved to 3-0 when they play together against Quinn, with Jack specifically now being 8-1-1.
“Definitely different than playing Vancouver,” said middle brother Jack, who had an assist. “That was a good, good win. I mean, it’s a shame we don’t play him again because we played them early in the year. But he’s crazy competitive. He’d be frustrated with how tonight went, but I mean, they’re probably playing tomorrow, the next day, so they got to regroup and just gear up again. I know they’ve played great hockey since he got there, and even before he was there, so they’ll keep it going.”
With their parents, Ellen and Jim, in the crowd along with a number of cousins, the Hughes brothers posed for a picture before the game. The family got to spend Sunday night together after the Devils landed in the Twin Cities at 6:30 p.m.
Jack is excited by how Quinn has fit in on the Wild.
“I think the whole time, like the Wild was never one of those teams you’ve heard of, or you just never really imagined him going there,” Jack said. “So I think it’s been a great fit for him so far. I mean, there’s great players for him to play with. It’s fun watching him snap it around with Bolds and (Kirill) Kaprizov and Faber. They’ve got some good players. So just from the outside watching, I’ve had a lot of fun tuning into Minnesota games.”
Jack added, laughing, “I’ve never watched Minnesota play. I, honestly, in my career, I don’t think I’ve ever watched them, so now I’m tuned in and watching all their games, and it’s fun to watch.”
Jack noted how Quinn has a number of college friends from University of Michigan in the Twin Cities, plus a couple of cousins, including Shattuck-St. Mary’s coach and former Boston College defenseman Teddy Doherty.
“Honestly, great for him to be back in the States,” Jack said.
As for Quinn’s take on the game: “I think you want this one, but also just lost last game, lost tonight, just more worried about that aspect and the fact that I just know we probably got a little bit better. So, just focus on that.”
A ‘stinger’
The Wild had tied the game with six minutes left in the second period, and it looked like they had the momentum despite all their missed chances. But with 7.5 seconds left, the Devils delivered a gut punch, a go-ahead goal from the back post. Palat had sprung free behind the net, with neither Middleton or Foligno covering him.
Foligno, who finished a 1:59 shift, had tried to clear the puck moments earlier.
“That is my fault there,” Foligno said. “Late goals sting everyone in this league. It’s not a great goal to give up. Long shift, we got caught out there. You’re trying to stay back and it’s probably better opportunity to change. Like to have that one back. That was a stinger for us. If we go (into the third period) 1-1, mentally we’re a little more refreshed.”
Coach John Hynes said he didn’t think the late goal by the Devils changed the game — it was more of an example of how the Wild “weren’t as sharp” as they’re used to overall.
“You know, you look at some of the goals we let up, you know, normally we’re very good in that area,” Hynes said. “So I look at the game in general and it just wasn’t what it needed to be.”
Eriksson Ek, Bogosian updates
Joel Eriksson Ek missed his second game in a row with a lower-body injury, but he tested the injury Monday morning and lasted the entire morning skate. While there’s no doubt he has a legitimate injury, it’s considered minor and Hynes indicates his return won’t be far off in the distance. The Wild fell to 0-1-1 without him.
“We’re without Ekker — a big piece,” Foligno said.
As for defenseman Zach Bogosian, he too skated Monday morning after hurting his foot four games ago. He too is day-to-day and Daemon Hunt remained in the lineup.
With two days off before the Wild end the homestand Thursday night, we’ll see if either player can return before the Wild head out on a three-game trip out east.
“We’ll see how they progress the next couple days,” Hynes said.