Game Preview: Wild at Senators

OTTAWA, ON -- The Minnesota Wild flies the coop today, heading to Ottawa to challenge the Senators after defeating the Canucks 5-2 at Grand Casino Arena and securing the Wild's spot in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Info for Tonight's Game:

• When: Saturday, April 4th at 12:00 p.m. CT
• Where: Canadian Tire Centre (Ottawa, Ontario)
• Stream: FanDuel Sports North
• Listen: KFAN
• Gamecenter: Wild at Senators

Wild Record: 42-21-12

Senators Record: 39-26-10

2025-26 Series Record: 1-1-0

All-Time Wild Record: 17-12-5 (7-6-3 at Ottawa)

Last Time Out

This Season on Wild vs. Senators

Minnesota won the series-opening game, 3-2, in St. Paul (12/13).

LW Marcus Johansson led Minnesota’s scoring with two assists, while C Joel Eriksson Ek, C Ryan Hartman, and F Tyler Pitlick each scored goals. G Jesper Wallstedt saved 34-of-36 shots faced to earn the win for the Wild.

C Dylan Cozens (1-1=2) and C Tim Stützle (1-1=2) each tallied two points for Ottawa. G Leevi Meriläinen stopped 22-of-25 shots faced for the Senators.

Wild Leaders Against Senators

• D Jeff Petry leads Minnesota with 22 career points (9-13=22) in 50 career games against Ottawa
• D Quinn Hughes has 21 points (2-19=21) in 19 games
• RW Mats Zuccarello owns 18 points (7-11=18) in 22 matches
• LW Nick Foligno has 17 points (8-9=17) in 29 games
• RW Vladimir Tarasenko has 16 points (11-5=16) in 22 games

Senators Leaders Against Wild

• RW Claude Giroux leads Ottawa with 15 points (6-9=15) in 24 career games against Minnesota
• RW Drake Batherson owns 11 points (3-8=11) in nine games
• C Nick Cousins has 10 points (3-7=10) in 19 games
• C Lars Eller owns nine points (3-6=9) in 23 meetings

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On the Mend

No current injury designations.

Full Injury Report

Connections

• Gustavsson went 10-13-3 with a 3.12 GAA and a .905 SV% in 27 games across two seasons with Ottawa (2020-22)
• Tarasenko collected 41 points (17-24=41) and four GWG in 57 games with Ottawa in 2023-24
• Nick Foligno was selected by Ottawa in the first round (No. 28 overall) of the 2006 NHL Draft and collected 148 points (61-87=148) across five seasons (2007-12) with the Senators as well as six points (2-4=6) in 17 Stanley Cup Playoff games in three postseason appearances (2008, 2010, 2012)
• Wild Associate Coach Jack Capuano spent five seasons as Associate Coach for Ottawa (2019-24)
• Wild Player Development Coach Derek Stepan recorded six points (1-5=6) in 20 games with Ottawa in 2020-21
• D Nick Jensen is from Rogers and played three seasons at St. Cloud State University (2010-13)
• D Cameron Crotty played in one game for the Wild during the 2024-25 season
• Ottawa assistant coach Mike Yeo spent five seasons (2011-16) as Head Coach for Minnesota, with a record of 173-132-44, and led Minnesota to three Stanley Cup Playoff appearances (2013, 2014, 2015)

Fast Facts

• The Wild has won nine of its last 11 meetings at Grand Casino Arena (9-2-0) and five of its last eight games in Ottawa (5-2-1)
• Minnesota has earned points in 14 of its last 17 contests against Ottawa (13-3-1) dating back to Nov. 13, 2016

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