Wild Aim for Season Sweep Against Sabres in St. Paul Showdown

SAINT PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Wild are set to face the Buffalo Sabres tonight at the Xcel Energy Center, seeking a season sweep in their 7 p.m. matchup. Minnesota comes into the game riding a two-game winning streak and looking to capitalize on their recent momentum after defeating the Seattle Kraken 4-0 on March 19.

Goaltender Filip Gustavsson has emerged as a key asset for the Wild, having registered a shutout against the Kraken by stopping all 34 shots faced. Additionally, his performance against the Los Angeles Kings on March 17, where he saved 28 of 29 shots, has reinforced his place as one of the top goaltenders in franchise history, now holding fifth all-time shutouts for the Wild with a total of 11.

The current standing places Minnesota at 39-25-5 with 83 points, occupying the fourth position in the Central Division, while the Sabres stand at 27-34-6, marking them eighth in the Atlantic Division.

“We’re finally getting some rhythm back, and it’s important for us to build on this success,” Gustavsson said. “We have to stick to our game plan and not take anything for granted, especially against a team like Buffalo.”

In their previous encounter on November 27, the Wild claimed a narrow victory over the Sabres, winning 1-0 at KeyBank Center. Left winger Kirill Kaprizov scored the decisive goal, assisted by center Joel Eriksson Ek and left winger Matt Boldy. Gustavsson’s stellar performance that night included a franchise-historic sixth-highest save total in shutout victory.

Buffalo’s offensive numbers suggest they will be a challenge for Minnesota, as they came off a 3-2 win against the Boston Bruins. Although the Sabres have faced difficulties this season, averaging only 2.6 goals per game, their recent power play success, highlighted by a 35.7% conversion rate over the last four games, could present problems for the Wild’s struggling penalty kill, which currently ranks second to last in the league at 71.4%.

Thompson has emerged as a standout player for the Sabres this season. The center is looking to reach the 40-goal milestone for the second time in his career, needing just six goals in the remaining 14 games. The absence of Minnesota’s top defensive center, Eriksson Ek, who is sidelined with a lower-body injury, might provide Thompson with the offensive space he needs.

With injuries impacting both lineups, the Wild will be without several key players, including Kaprizov and defenseman Jonas Brodin. However, head coach Dean Evason remains optimistic about his team’s depth. “We’re missing some heavy hitters, but we’ve got players ready to step up in their absence,” he said.

Tonight’s game is crucial as the Wild looks to improve on their 2024-25 series record against the Sabres, currently standing at 1-0-0. The matchup is not only a chance for Minnesota to consolidate its position in the playoff race but also an opportunity to add more victories to their tally against an Eastern Conference foe.

As puck drop approaches, anticipation builds for what promises to be an exciting matchup filled with playoff implications. Fans are encouraged to arrive early to support their team as they battle it out on the ice.