Game Preview: Wild vs. Canucks

SAINT PAUL, Minn. -- The Minnesota Wild returns tonight after four days off, fresh-faced, rested and ready to face the Vancouver Canucks at Grand Casino Arena.

The Wild stands on the precipice of clinching berth in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs tonight. 

All Wild Clinch Scenarios:

• If Minnesota get at least one point vs. the Canucks

OR

• If the Maple Leafs defeat the Sharks in any fashion AND the Flames defeat the Golden Knights in regulation AND the Blackhawks defeat the Oilers in regulation

OR

• If the Maple Leafs defeat the Sharks in regulation

OR

• With any result in the Kings-Predators game other than a Kings regulation win

Info for Tonight's Game:

• When: Thursday, April 2nd at 7:00 p.m. CT
• Where: Grand Casino Arena (Saint Paul, Minnesota)
• Tickets: Buy Now
• Stream: FanDuel Sports North
• Listen: KFAN
• Gamecenter: Wild vs. Canucks

Wild Record: 41-21-12

Canucks Record: 22-44-8

2025-26 Series Record: 1-1-0

All-Time Wild Record: 53-40-15 (31-18-6 at Grand Casino Arena)

Last Time Out

This Season on Wild vs. Canucks

Minnesota won the series-opening game, 5-2, in St. Paul (11/1) before Vancouver won the second meeting, 4-2, at Rogers Arena (12/6).

RW Vladimir Tarasenko (1-2=3) and LW Matt Boldy (1-2=3) lead the Wild with three points each. D Jonas Brodin (1-1=2), C Joel Eriksson Ek (0-2=2) and RW Mats Zuccarello (1-1=2) have each posted two points. G Filip Gustavsson saved 26-of-28 shots to earn the victory for the Wild in the first game. G Jesper Wallstedt stopped 16-of-20 shots faced in the second game.

C Autu Raty leads the Canucks with five points (2-3=5) in the series. LW Drew O’Connor (2-0=2) and D Tom Willander (1-1=2) each have two points. G Thatcher Demko stopped 23-of-27 shots faced for the Canucks in the first game. G Nikita Tolopilo saved 28-of-30 shots faced to earn the win in the second matchup.

Wild Leaders Against Canucks

• Tarasenko leads Minnesota with 32 points (13-19=32) in 33 career games against Vancouver
• Zuccarello has 28 points (10-18=28) in 25 career contests
• D Jeff Petry owns 24 points (8-16=24) in 47 games
• LW Kirill Kaprizov (9-10=19 in 13 games) and D Jared Spurgeon (4-15=19 in 45 games) each have 19 points

Canucks Leaders Against Wild

• LW Evander Kane leads Vancouver with 23 points (13-10=23) in 35 career games against Minnesota
• C Elias Pettersson owns 12 points (7-5=12) in 17 games
• RW Brock Boesser (3-8=11 in 21 games) and LW Jake DeBrusk (7-4=11 in 15 games) have 11 points each

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On the Mend

Jared Spurgeon: upper body (one game missed)

Full Injury Report

Connections

• D Quinn Hughes was selected by Vancouver in the first round (No. 7 overall) of the 2018 NHL Draft and recorded 432 points (61-371=432) in 459 games across parts of eight seasons (2018-2026) with the Canucks, as well as 26 points (2-24=26) in 30 games across two Stanley Cup Playoff appearances (2020, 2024)
• Minnesota Associate Coach Jack Capuano played in three games with Vancouver in 1990-91
• Wild Assistant Coach Jason King was selected by Vancouver in the seventh round (212th overall) of the 2001 NHL Draft and recorded 23 points (12-11=23) in 55 games in parts of two seasons with the Canucks (2002-04)
• King also served as an Assistant Coach for Vancouver for three seasons (2020-23) and five seasons as an Assistant Coach with the Canucks AHL affiliate in Utica (2016-20)
• C Marco Rossi was selected by the Wild in the first round (No. 9 overall) of the 2020 NHL Draft and recorded 114 points (49-65=114) in 202 games across parts of five seasons (2021-26) with the Wild, as well three points (1-2=3) in six games during the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs
• F Liam Öhgren was selected by Minnesota in the first round (No. 19 overall) of the 2022 NHL Draft and tallied seven points (3-4=7) in 46 games in parts of three seasons (2023-26) with the Wild
• D Zeev Buium was selected by the Wild in the first round (No. 12 overall) of the 2024 NHL Draft and posted 14 points (3-11=14) in one season (2025-26) with Minnesota, as well as one assist in four games during the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs
• Boeser is from Burnsville
• D Derek Forbort is from Duluth
• Canucks Assistant Coach Brett McLean was an Assistant Coach for the Iowa Wild for three seasons (2017-20), spent three seasons as an Assistant Coach with Minnesota (2020-23) and two seasons as the Iowa Wild Head Coach (2023-25)

Fast Facts

• Minnesota has won eight consecutive home games against Vancouver (since 2/6/20), including three OTW and one SOW
• Minnesota is 16-5-0 in its last 21 games overall vs. Vancouver (since 3/9/18) and 5-2-0 in the last six meetings (since 12/16/23)
• The Wild set single-game franchise records for goals scored (10) and single-period goals scored (seven, third period) vs. Vancouver on 2/19/24
• Minnesota’s 53 wins and 121 points vs. the Canucks are its fourth-most against any franchise

At Tonight's Game

• BMO Flag Bearer: Jack Toutant
• Corporate Pre-Game Activation: In celebration of tonight's Green Game, which highlights Grand Casino Arena's year-round sustainability efforts, fans will be able to "Touch a Truck" presented by Waste Management near Gate 2.
• Guardian of the Game: Sergent First Class Jason Chandler
• Let's Play Hockey: Mariah Nguyen (Aurora FC)
• Skate for State: During the first intermission, the Minnesota Wild will recognize the Skate for State champions.
• Food Item of the Game: Add a slapshot of flavor to your game day experience with a brand new seltzer now available at Sections 103 and 204!
• Retail Item of the Game: It's the green game and we have plenty of it. Head to the Hockey Lodge, a Fanatics experience today and gear up for the playoff push!
• Ticket Pack Distribution Locations: Fans who purchased specialty ticket packages (Front Line Appreciation or Wild About Paws) for tonight's game can pick up the item(s) near Section 114.

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