The excitement is palpable as the Minnesota Wild prepare to host the New Jersey Devils tonight at 7:00 p.m. on FanDuel Sports Network and KFAN FM 100.3. This game features a unique sibling rivalry, with the Hughes brothers—Quinn, Jack, and Luke—all set to skate together for the third time in their NHL careers. The Devils have been victorious in their previous two encounters with the Wild, winning on December 5, 2023, and October 30, 2024. Quinn Hughes has made his mark against the Devils, accumulating eight points in 10 games, including a three-assist performance earlier this year. Meanwhile, Jack Hughes has garnered three points in six matchups against Minnesota, and Luke has recorded six points over five contests.
Entering this matchup, the Wild are looking to bounce back from a narrow 4-3 overtime loss to the New York Islanders. Despite the setback, Minnesota has shown impressive form with points earned in 15 of their last 17 games (11-2-4), tying for the most points in the NHL since December 8. Their overall record at home has been strong, earning points in 16 of the last 17 games played at the Grand Casino Arena. The Wild have also maintained an impressive 7-0-2 mark against Eastern Conference opponents in their last nine matchups.
Tonight, Jesper Wallstedt will be in goal for Minnesota. He comes into the game with a solid 12-2-4 record this season, along with a 2.28 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage, boasting four shutouts to his name. Wallstedt has performed admirably on home ice, holding a 6-1-1 record at Grand Casino Arena. However, this will be his first-ever meeting against the Devils.
The Devils, on the other hand, are facing Minnesota on the second night of a back-to-back after a loss to the Winnipeg Jets, which marked their fourth consecutive defeat. Jacob Markstrom will start for New Jersey. He has a record of 10-11-1 this season, with a 3.48 goals-against average and an .878 save percentage. Historically, Markstrom has performed well against the Wild, holding a 9-3-2 record against them, along with a 2.19 GAA and a .925 SV%.
Among the players to watch for Minnesota is rookie defenseman Brock Faber, who is currently riding a four-game point streak, contributing significantly to the team’s offensive play with 12 points over his last 14 games. Also noteworthy is veteran forward Mats Zuccarello, who has fared well against the Devils throughout his career, netting 24 points in 36 games and recently recording seven points in his last seven outings.
As both teams take the ice, fans are in for an exciting matchup filled with personal rivalries and the potential for thrilling hockey action.