Wild clinch spot in NHL playoffs with another chance to advance for 1st time since 2015

ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Wild punched their ticket to the NHL playoffs on Tuesday night, ending a two-season absence from the postseason and setting up their first opportunity to advance past the opening round since 2015.

The clinching victory, played in front of a raucous home crowd at Xcel Energy Center, locks the Wild into the 16-team tournament and revives championship hopes for a franchise that has not progressed beyond the first round in eight years. While the opponent and series details remain to be determined, the Wild’s berth guarantees them at least four more games and a shot at ending the longest series-victory drought in the club’s current iteration.

Minnesota now turns its attention to seeding and health, mindful that the path through the playoffs offers a fresh slate and the possibility of rewriting recent history. For players who joined the organization after the team’s last series win, the postseason stage represents both a milestone and a proving ground.

Fans across the state greeted the news with excitement, recalling the 2014-15 campaign as the last time the Wild celebrated a playoff series triumph. With the drought officially snapped, the focus shifts to preparation, matchups, and the singular goal of advancing when the puck drops on the opening round.