Anaheim Ducks vs. Minnesota Wild Pick & Prediction APRIL 15th 2025
Preview and Prediction
The Minnesota Wild can secure a spot in the playoffs by earning at least one point against the Anaheim Ducks, who are visiting Saint Paul, Minn. on Tuesday.
The Wild (44-30-7, 95 points) currently hold the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference as they head into their final regular-season game. They are four points ahead of the Calgary Flames, who have two games remaining.
"We have the power to control our own fate," stated Wild defenseman Brock Faber. "Now, we just have to focus on our last and most important game of the year."
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If they qualify, Minnesota will face the Vegas Golden Knights in the first round of the playoffs. However, the Wild have not had much success against the Golden Knights this season, going 0-3-0 in their three matchups.
19-year-old Zeev Buium is expected to make his NHL debut for the Wild on Tuesday. Buium was the 12th overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft and recently completed his sophomore season at the University of Denver. Despite being the second youngest player in college hockey, he led all NCAA defensemen in scoring (50) and was third in assists (39) among all players.
On Sunday, the Wild signed Buium to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Since returning from a lower-body injury that required surgery and kept him out for 2 1/2 months, Kirill Kaprizov has recorded two goals and two assists in three games for Minnesota. Kaprizov has been the Wild's top scorer for the past four seasons.
37-year-old veteran winger Mats Zuccarello is also finishing the regular season strong for the Wild. He has seven points (two goals, five assists) in seven games this month.
"Big-time players make big plays, and he just seems to always be there in the big moments," Faber said of Zuccarello.
The Anaheim Ducks (35-37-8, 78 points) have been playing spoiler since their own playoff hopes were dashed late last month. On Sunday, they faced a Colorado Avalanche team that was resting their top seven point scorers, but the Ducks couldn't take advantage and ended up losing 4-2 after surrendering four straight goals in the final 10 minutes.
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"That's not the way a winning team should play," said Ducks coach Greg Cronin. "We started poorly and ended poorly. We turned the puck over repeatedly. It's extremely disappointing. I'll leave it at that."
Anaheim will end their season against the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday, but Cronin expects both teams to play with full effort.
"I'm assuming Minnesota just got some players back and they want to play them, so it will be a different game," Cronin said. "We need to play the right way. Winnipeg has a prideful team and they all want to gain momentum heading into the playoffs. We need to play the right way, it's as simple as that."
Ducks center Mason McTavish continues to play well, scoring his team-leading 22nd goal of the season against the Avalanche. He has eight points (four goals, four assists) in his last 10 games.
"He's been our best player during this streak, where he was averaging a point per game," Cronin said. "Obviously, he has a bright future ahead of him. Like all these young players, they need to learn to play the right way consistently, but I think Mac has been a catalyst for our offense in the second half of the season."
Anaheim Ducks vs. Minnesota Wild Recap APR 15TH 2025
The Minnesota Wild clinched a playoff berth when Joel Eriksson Ek forged a tie with 21 seconds left in regulation, then the Wild wrapped up a 3-2 win over the visiting Anaheim Ducks when Matt Boldy scored with 18 seconds remaining in overtime Tuesday night in Saint Paul, Minn.
Filip Gustavsson made 22 saves in regulation and Marc-Andre Fleury, set to retire after his 21st season in the NHL, made five saves in overtime and helped Minnesota kill a power play.
Marcus Johansson also scored for the Wild (45-30-7, 97 points), who earned the Western Conference's first wild-card spot to highlight their regular-season finale.
Alex Killorn and Sam Colangelo scored while Lukas Dostal made 37 saves for the Ducks (35-37-9, 79 points), who have lost three in a row with one game remaining.
The Ducks took a 2-1 lead at 8:45 of the third period.
Mason McTavish and Colangelo sprung loose on a 2-on-1 rush and McTavish made a late feed to Colangelo, who scored with a backhand for his 10th goal of the season.
The Wild pulled Gustavsson for the extra attacker and Dostal made a sprawling stick save on Eriksson Ek, but he scored the rebound for the tying goal that sent the game to overtime and guaranteed Minnesota the point it needed to wrap up a playoff spot.
The Wild hit the post twice in the first eight minutes before Johansson gave them a 1-0 lead at 9:47.
Minnesota caught the Ducks making a line change and Wild defenseman Jake Middleton made a stretch pass to Mats Zuccarello along the wall at the Anaheim blue line.
Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas played the puck, leaving Johansson undefended and he sprung loose. Zuccarello slid the puck to Johansson for a short breakaway and he scored his 11th goal of the season.
The Ducks tied it 1-1 at 13:48 of the first period.
Leo Carlsson brought the puck across the Minnesota blue line and dropped a pass for Cutter Gauthier at the left point. His wrist shot hit Middleton in front of the Wild net and Killorn poked the loose puck through the pads of Gustavsson for his 19th goal of the season.