Fleury Makes History as Wild Face Senators in Crucial NHL Matchup

OTTAWA, Ontario — The Minnesota Wild and Ottawa Senators are set to clash Saturday night at Canadian Tire Centre, with both teams riding momentum from recent victories. The Wild, coming off a 4-0 shutout win against the Montreal Canadiens, will likely start goaltender Filip Gustavsson, while the Senators aim to extend their three-game winning streak.

Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury made history Thursday, becoming the first NHL goalie to record a shutout as a teenager and at 40 years or older. Fleury, who grew up a Montreal Canadiens fan, was honored by his hometown team after the game. His 21-season shutout streak ties Martin Brodeur for the NHL record. “It was an emotional night,” Fleury said. “To do it in Montreal, where it all started for me, is special.”

The Wild will stick with the same lineup that dominated the Canadiens, with defenseman Travis Dermott remaining a healthy scratch. Meanwhile, the Senators will also field an unchanged roster from their 5-4 overtime win against the Washington Capitals. Ottawa coach Travis Green expressed optimism about defenseman Nick Jensen‘s potential return Sunday, though Jensen will miss his fourth straight game.

Ottawa’s penalty kill, ranked 18th in the NHL at 78.4%, has shown improvement, scoring two shorthanded goals in 38 seconds during Thursday’s game. Josh Norris and Shane Pinto each contributed to the team’s league-leading seven shorthanded goals this season. “Our penalty kill has been a bright spot,” Green said. “We’re finding ways to capitalize on those opportunities.”

Injuries continue to impact both teams. The Wild will be without key players Kirill Kaprizov (lower body), Marcus Johansson (upper body), and Jonas Brodin (lower body). The Senators are missing Linus Ullmark (back), Jacob Bernard-Docker (high ankle sprain), and Nick Cousins, who underwent knee surgery Friday and is expected to miss 6-8 weeks.

Saturday’s game marks a critical juncture for both teams as they push for playoff positioning. The Wild, led by Gustavsson’s 20 wins this season, face a Senators squad that has gone 7-2-1 in their last 10 games. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET, with the game broadcast on SN1 and TSN 1200.