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Minnesota Wild Host New Jersey Devils in Unique Back-to-Back Series Opener
about 1 year agoUS
The Minnesota Wild (41-27-5) welcome the New Jersey Devils (38-28-7) to the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul for a Saturday evening clash. This game marks the first meeting between the two teams this season and kicks off a rare regular-season back-to-back series, with the teams facing off again in New Jersey on Monday. Both teams are vying for playoff positioning as the season winds down.
Key Insights
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Records & Standings:: The Wild sit 4th in the Central Division with 87 points, while the Devils hold the 3rd spot in the Metropolitan Division with 83 points.
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Recent Form:: Minnesota enters the game following a 4-2 victory over the Washington Capitals. New Jersey looks to rebound after a recent 4-0 shutout loss to the Winnipeg Jets.
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Last Season:: The Devils swept the season series 2-0 against the Wild in 2023-24.
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Statistical Edge:: New Jersey holds advantages in Power Play percentage (28.1% vs 20.7%), Penalty Kill percentage (82.3% vs 71.7%), and Goals For per game (2.99 vs 2.70), though the Wild allow slightly fewer Goals Against per game (2.79 vs 2.62).
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Why this matters:: With playoff races tightening, every point is crucial. This game, and the immediate rematch, represent a significant challenge and opportunity for both clubs to gain ground or solidify their positions.
In-Depth Analysis
This matchup presents a unique scenario as the Wild and Devils play consecutive games against each other, a rarity outside of the playoffs. Wild coach John Hynes, who previously coached the Devils, noted the playoff-like preparation involved in facing the same opponent twice in quick succession.
Historically, despite the Devils sweeping last season's series, the Wild have had recent success, going 7-2-1 in their last 10 meetings against New Jersey, outscoring them 32-27 in that span.
Several players and staff have connections to both organizations. Wild GM Bill Guerin won a Stanley Cup with the Devils in 1995, and Senior Advisor Ray Shero previously served as Devils GM. Wild players Marcus Johansson and Jon Merrill, along with Goaltending Coach Frederic Chabot, have history with New Jersey, while Devils forward Erik Haula began his career with Minnesota.
The Wild continue to deal with injuries, notably missing Declan Chisholm, Joel Eriksson Ek, and Kirill Kaprizov. Recent roster moves have seen defenseman Cameron Crotty shuttled between the NHL squad and the Iowa Wild (AHL) under emergency conditions.
Fans attending the game can enjoy the final Rink Rock concert of the season featuring Pirates, Guitars & Beachfront Bars before the game and during the first intermission.
FAQs
When and where is the Wild vs. Devils game?
The game is on Saturday, March 29th, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. CT at the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
How did the teams do against each other last season?
The New Jersey Devils won both games against the Minnesota Wild during the 2023-24 season (4-3 and 5-3).
Who are the key players to watch?
For the Wild, watch Mats Zuccarello (leads active Wild players in career points vs. NJD) and Matt Boldy (scored recently). For the Devils, Jesper Bratt (led NJD with 7 points vs. MIN last season) and Timo Meier (leads active Devils in career points vs. MIN) are key threats.
Key Takeaways
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The outcome of this game, and the subsequent rematch, could significantly impact the playoff picture for both teams.
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Watch the special teams battle: New Jersey has a strong power play and penalty kill, while Minnesota's penalty kill has struggled (71.7%).
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Monitor how both teams adjust tactically for the second game of this unusual back-to-back set.
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The Wild need players like Matt Boldy and Freddy Gaudreau (both scored in the last game) to step up offensively, especially with key players injured.
Discussion
Do you think the Wild can leverage home ice and break the Devils' recent series dominance? Let us know!
*Share this article with others who need to stay ahead of this trend!*
Sources & References
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