In a commanding performance, the Minnesota Wild defeated the Edmonton Oilers 5-2 on November 25, 2023, marking their seventh consecutive victory. Forward Matt Boldy scored two goals, while goaltender Filip Gustavsson made 28 saves, solidifying Minnesota’s position in the NHL standings.
The Wild’s offense was multi-faceted, with contributions from Ryan Hartman, Vladimir Tarasenko, and Nico Sturm. This win also set a franchise record with a 14-game home points streak at the Grand Casino Arena, as they went 12-0-2 since November 1. Gustavsson has been instrumental during this stretch, boasting an impressive record of 8-1-1 in his last ten starts.
Minnesota’s defensive strategy has been highly effective, allowing just 11 goals throughout their winning streak, with no more than two goals conceded in any single game. The Wild’s resilience was tested when Connor McDavid and Andrew Mangiapane found the back of the net for Edmonton, but Minnesota managed to maintain control.
The scoring opened early in the first period when Boldy capitalized at 3:42, marking his fourth consecutive game with a goal. He later extended the lead to 2-0 with a power play goal, assisted by Quinn Hughes, at 10:42. Boldy has been in exceptional form, recording seven goals in his past eight games, tying him with Kirill Kaprizov for the team lead with a total of 22 goals.
The Oilers battled back, with Mangiapane scoring on a redirect and McDavid tying the game late in the first period by poking in a loose puck. However, Hartman restored Minnesota’s advantage with a goal just eight seconds before the intermission, completing a give-and-go with Jake Middleton.
Midway through the third period, Tarasenko scored his fourth goal in three games, poking home a puck that trickled past Oilers goaltender Calvin Pickard, extending the lead to 4-2. Sturm later capped the scoring with an empty-net goal.
The Oilers had entered the contest with momentum, having won four of their last five games and six of eight. Leon Draisaitl continued his impressive play, recording two assists to reach 50 points for the 11th consecutive season, tying the franchise record held by Glenn Anderson and Mark Messier.
Looking ahead, the Oilers will host the Vegas Golden Knights on November 26, while the Wild will face the Colorado Avalanche at home the same night. The Wild’s recent success highlights their strong performance during the season, setting the stage for a competitive matchup against Colorado.
