The Minnesota Wild took their season-long locker room motto of “Choose Your Hard” literally, choosing the hardest way possible to clinch a playoff berth Tuesday night in their 82nd and final game of the regular season. After coming up empty on back-to-back power plays in the second period and hitting iron four times in the game, the Wild advanced to the playoffs by virtue of Joel Eriksson Ek’s tying goal with 22 seconds left in regulation, taking the Anaheim Ducks to overtime to earn the one standings point they needed to clinch. Matt Boldy then scored with 20 seconds left in OT to deliver the Wild a regular-season ending 3-2 win.
the biggest goal of the Wild's season is an absolute beauty. Zuccarello and Boldy with great passes to set up Eriksson Ek pic.twitter.
com/gLXlMBDbEw — Shayna (@shaynagoldman_) April 16, 2025 The Wild finished in the top wild-card spot and will face the Pacific Division champion Vegas Golden Knights in the first round. The series is expected to start in Las Vegas on Sunday. Vegas, up 3-1 in the third period, entered Tuesday’s game in Calgary with a 49-22-9 record and is 29-9-3 at home.
Marcus Johansson scored the Wild’s other goal, and Filip Gustavsson made 23 saves against the Ducks, who the Wild had beaten 17 times in the previous 18 meetings. Minnesota has now made the playoffs 11 times in 13 years — most of any Western Conference team. Matt Boldy with the winner pic.
twitter.com/ZRVDXgtkfA — Shayna (@shaynagoldman_) April 16, 2025 .
