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Wild Look to Bounce Back After Devils’ Dominant Win
The Minnesota Wild and New Jersey Devils face off for the second time in three days when they meet Monday night at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ.
New Jersey (39-29-7, 85 points) secured a 5-2 victory over Minnesota on Saturday, striking just 28 seconds into the game and never looking back. As both teams fight for a favorable postseason spot, this rematch will be crucial.
The Devils currently sit behind the Carolina Hurricanes for second place in the Metropolitan Division and hold a strong lead over the New York Rangers for third place. Meanwhile, the Wild (41-28-5, 87 points) are tied with St. Louis atop the Western Conference wild-card race, trailing the Colorado Avalanche by six points for third place in the Central Division.
With five of their last eight games on the road, the Wild will need to maximize their performance away from home. They have been one of the best road teams in the NHL, earning 47 points (22-11-3) outside of Minnesota this season.
Devils Riding Momentum from Hischier’s Hat Trick
New Jersey put together a determined performance on Saturday, bouncing back from a 4-0 shutout loss to the Winnipeg Jets the night before.
Captain Nico Hischier was the star of the night, recording his second hat trick of the season and setting a new career high for goals in a single season with 33.
Hischier has been on fire recently, recording points in nine of his last 10 games with seven goals and six assists.
Key Contributors for the Devils
- Jesper Bratt had two assists in Saturday’s win and remains a key playmaker.
- Paul Cotter and Tomas Tatar each found the back of the net, helping to fuel the offense.
- Jacob Markstrom made 22 saves, securing his second win in three starts.
- Stefan Noesen added an assist, bringing his season total to a career-high 38 points (20 goals, 18 assists).
Coach Sheldon Keefe praised his team’s resilience, saying they played with an attitude that wouldn’t allow them to be denied.
“To me, it was one of those nights where you weren’t going to be denied. There’s no panic in the group in the third period. … A lot of things to love about our group tonight.”
The Devils also welcomed back Luke Hughes, who returned from a lower-body injury. The talented defenseman recorded one assist and three shots while logging nearly 20 minutes of ice time.
Wild Searching for a Stronger Start
Minnesota struggled on Saturday, falling behind 2-0 early and never fully recovering. Ryan Hartman’s goal briefly cut the deficit to 3-2 in the third period, but New Jersey pulled away late.
“We put ourselves down too early,” Hartman said. “That’s a good team that you got to show up ready. We handed them two goals which is unacceptable at this time of the year.”
The Wild have now lost three of their last four games, making this road trip even more critical.
Key Players for Minnesota
- Marcus Foligno had a goal and an assist, providing some offensive spark.
- Ryan Hartman added a goal in the loss.
- Filip Gustavsson made 28 saves, but the early defensive lapses proved costly.
Coach John Hynes acknowledged that the team wasn’t mentally or physically ready from the opening faceoff.
“I just thought from the drop of the puck, mentally and physically we weren’t where we needed to be, and it lasted throughout the game.”
Injury Updates for the Wild
Minnesota received some good news regarding two key forwards:
- Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek returned to full practice with the team.
- Both players will travel with the team this week, but their return to game action remains uncertain.
If either player suits up during this road trip, it would be a significant boost to the Wild’s playoff push.
Ice-Cold Profits Await
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Game Information
Date: Monday, April 1, 2024
Location: Prudential Center – Newark, NJ
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Broadcast: ESPN+, MSG, Bally Sports North
Final Thoughts
With playoff positioning on the line, this rematch is critical for both teams. The Devils will try to build off Saturday’s impressive win, while the Wild must correct their slow start and play with more urgency.
If Minnesota can capitalize on its road success and tighten up defensively, they could split the back-to-back series. However, New Jersey’s offensive momentum and home-ice advantage make them a formidable opponent.
