Game Preview: Wild vs. Senators

SAINT PAUL, Minn. -- The Wild hits the ice again today, sporting some fresh blood in D Quinn Hughes, who was acquired by the Wild last night in a blockbuster deal that saw C Marco Rossi, D Zeev Buium and LW Liam Öhgren head to the Canucks, in addition to a 2026 First Round Draft Pick.

Info for Tonight's Game:

• When: Saturday, December 13th at 1:00 p.m. CT
• Where: Grand Casino Arena (Saint Paul, Minnesota)
• Tickets: Buy Now
• Watch: FanDuel Sports Network
• Listen: KFAN
• Gamecenter: Wild vs. Senators

Wild Record: 17-9-5

Senators Record: 14-12-4

2024-25 Series Record: 0-2-0

All-Time Wild Record: 16-12-5 (9-6-2 at Grand Casino Arena)

Last Time Out

Last Season on Wild vs. Senators

Minnesota went 0-2-0 against the Senators. Ottawa won the series-opening game, 3-1, in Saint Paul (11/29) and won the second game 6-0 in Ottawa (2/1).

C Freddy Gaudreau (1-0=1) scored the Wild’s lone goal, assisted by D Declan Chisholm (0-1=1) and LW Marcus Foligno (0- 1=1). G Filip Gustavsson went 0-2-0 with a 4.05 GAA and a .909 SV%.

D Jake Sanderson led Ottawa with five points (1-4=5). RW Drake Batherson had four points (1-3=4). C Tim Stuetzle (1-2=3) and LW Brady Tkachuk (1-2=3) had three points each. G Leevi Merilainen went 2-0-0 with a 0.50 GAA, a .979 SV% and one shutout.

Wild Leaders Against Senators

• RW Mats Zuccarello leads Minnesota with 18 points (7- 11=18) in 22 career matches vs. Ottawa
• RW Vladimir Tarasenko has 16 points (11-5=16) in 21 games
• LW Marcus Johansson (5-6=11 in 34 games) and D Jared Spurgeon (5-6=11 in 20 games) have 11 points each

Senators Leaders Against Wild

• LW David Perron leads Ottawa with 40 points (17- 23=40) in 50 career games against Minnesota
• RW Claude Giroux has 15 points (6-9=15) in 23 games
• C Nick Cousins (3-7=10 in 18 games) and Batherson (3-7=10 in 18 games) have 10 points each

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On the Mend

Marcus Foligno: lower body (seven games missed)

Vinnie Hinostroza: lower body (nine games missed)

Jake Middleton: upper body (one game missed)

Mats Zuccarello: upper body (one game missed)

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
• 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)
• Ottawa assistant coach Mike Yeo spent five seaons (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 eight of its last 10 meetings at Grand Casino Arena (8-2-0) and five of its last eight games in Ottawa (5-2-1)
• Minnesota has earned points in 13 of its last 16 contests against Ottawa (12-3-1) dating back to Nov. 13, 2016

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