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SAINT PAUL, MN – APRIL 2: Matt Boldy #12 of the Minnesota Wild celebrates his goal against the Vancouver Canucks during the game at Grand Casino Arena on April 2, 2026 in Saint Paul, Minnesota. ((Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images))
ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) – For the fifth time in the last six seasons, the Minnesota Wild is headed to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Wild clinches playoff spot
What we know:
The Wild beat the Vancouver Canucks 5-2 Thursday night at Grand Casino Arena. The win gives them 96 points on the season, and clinched a spot in the Western Conference Playoffs.
The Wild is headed to the Stanley Cup for the 15th time in franchise history, and 12th time in the past 14 seasons.
Wild beats Vancouver 5-2
The backstory:
On a night where Quinn Hughes faced the Canucks after the Wild acquired him from Vancouver earlier this season, the Wild’s depth showed in a 5-2 win in St. Paul.
Matt Boldy scored twice for the Wild, and his second tally gave him 40 goals on the regular season. Kirill Kaprizov’s 40th goal of the season in the second period gave the Wild a 3-2 lead, and Ryan Hartman scored a pair of third period goals to cement the Wild’s victory.
Hartman scored at the 6:03 mark of the third period to give the Wild a 4-2 lead. He added an empty-net goal with 1:08 left in regulation.
Wild has 7 games left
What’s next:
The Wild now has seven regular season games left before the Stanley Cup Playoffs.Â
What we don’t know:
Their first round playoff opponent will likely be the Dallas Stars, who are currently six points ahead of the Wild in the Western Conference. Their opponent won’t become official until the end of the regular season.
Regardless of the opponent, the Wild will be seeking its first playoff series win since the 2014-15 season.