Game Preview: Wild at Ducks

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The Minnesota Wild is ready to kick off 2026, starting with the team's first match of the year against the Ducks in Anaheim after a 4-3 shootout loss to the Sharks on Wednesday night.

Info for Tonight's Game:

• When: Friday, January 2nd at 9:30 p.m. CT
• Where: Honda Center (Anaheim, California)
• Watch: FanDuel Sports North
• Listen: KFAN
• Gamecenter: Wild at Ducks

Wild Record: 24-10-7

Ducks Record: 21-16-3

2025-26 Series Record: 1-0-0

All-Time Wild Record: 50-32-7 (25-19-1 at Anaheim)

Last Time Out

This Season on Wild vs. Ducks

Minnesota won the series-opening game, 2-0, at Grand Casino Arena (11/15).

LW Matt Boldy led the Wild with two points (1-1=2). LW Marcus Johansson (1-0=1) also scored for Minnesota. G Jesper Wallstedt saved all 28 shots faced to earn the shutout victory.

G Petr Mrazek stopped 28-of-29 shots faced for the Ducks.

Wild Leaders Against Ducks

• RW Mats Zuccarello leads Minnesota with 30 points (8-22=30) in 35 career games vs. Anaheim
• LW Kirill Kaprizov owns 23 points (10-13=23) in 21 games
• D Quinn Hughes has 20 points (1-19=20) in 17 games
• C Ryan Hartman (9-8=17 in 30 games), D Jared Spurgeon (7-11=18 in 43 games) and LW Vladamir Tarasenko (7-11=18 in 29 games) have 18 points each

Ducks Leaders Against Wild

• LW Mikael Granlund leads Anaheim with 14 points (3-11=14) in 20 games vs. the Wild
• LW Chris Kreider owns 12 points (10-2=12) in 22 games
• C Ryan Strome (2-9=11 in 28 games) and D Jacob Trouba (2-9=11 in 32 games) have 11 points each

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On the Mend

Daemon Hunt: lower body (seven games missed)

Full Injury Report

Connections

• Wild Assistant Coach Jason King skated in four games with Anaheim in 2007-08
• Ducks Assistant Coach Tim Army spent five seasons (2018-23) as the Iowa Wild (AHL) Head Coach, with a record of 157-115-45 in 317 games
• Iowa Wild Head Coach Greg Cronin spent two seasons (2023-25) as Head Coach for Anaheim, compiling a 62-87-15 record in 164 games
• Granlund was selected ninth overall by Minnesota in the 2010 NHL Draft and recorded 317 points (93-224=317) in 461 games over seven seasons (2012-19) with the Wild
• D Jackson LaCombe is from Eden Prairie and played four seasons (2019-23) at the University of Minnesota
• D Drew Helleson is from Farmington and played two seasons (2015-17) at Shattuck St. Mary’s
• C Nikita Nesterenko was drafted by the Wild in the sixth round (No. 172 overall) of the 2019 NHL Draft
• C Ryan Poehling is from Lakeville and played at St. Cloud State University for three seasons (2016-19)

Fast Facts

• The Wild’s sweep of Anaheim in 2024-25 marked the third series sweep against the Ducks in franchise history (also 2022-23, 2021-22)
• Minnesota has won the last six meetings between the teams, including three shutout victories
• The Wild is 19-1-0 in its last 20 games against the Ducks, including a 13-game win streak from 1/20/21 to 12/21/22, the longest winning streak against an opponent in team history
• Minnesota is 10-1-0 in its last 11 games against Anaheim at Grand Casino Arena since 3/22/21, outscoring the Ducks 37-24

For more information on today's matchup, check out the game notes below.