Tuesday night’s matchup between the Anaheim Ducks and the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center offers a meaningful opportunity for one team to fine-tune its playoff edge and for the other to disrupt postseason plans, even as their own season nears the end. The Wild, currently holding a 43–29–7 record, are focused on securing their playoff spot and entering the postseason with form and momentum intact, especially with seeding implications still at play in the tight Western Conference race. Playing on home ice, where they have been particularly strong this season, the Wild will look to capitalize on their structured two-way play, physicality, and goaltending stability to extend their recent success. With a roster led by the likes of Kirill Kaprizov, who continues to lead Minnesota in offensive output with his blend of scoring touch and creativity, the Wild are well-positioned to dictate the tempo of this game, particularly if they dominate possession early and convert on special teams. Their penalty kill has been effective throughout the season, and their forecheck pressure at home often forces opponents into costly turnovers. Conversely, the Ducks come into this contest with a 35–35–8 record, out of the playoff race but certainly not mailing in the final stretch, especially after covering the spread in seven of their last ten games and continuing to show grit against stronger teams. Anaheim’s youth-driven roster has shown flashes of promise, particularly in the offensive zone where players like Mason McTavish and Troy Terry have provided much-needed production and energy, often pushing games closer than expected even when overmatched on paper.

Their power play has quietly improved, and if given enough opportunities, the Ducks can generate momentum through special teams, though maintaining discipline and minimizing time in the penalty box will be crucial if they hope to hang with the Wild in a tight-checking game. Defensively, Anaheim has struggled with consistency, but they’ve managed to tighten things up in recent weeks through more structured zone coverage and better puck management. Goaltending will be a critical factor—Anaheim needs their netminder to withstand Minnesota’s layered offensive attack and limit rebounds around the crease, particularly given the Wild’s tendency to crash the net. While Minnesota enters this game as the clear favorite with a moneyline near -268 and a clear advantage in experience, depth, and home-ice dominance, the Ducks’ recent ATS performance and ability to play with a chip on their shoulder suggests they won’t go down easily. The over/under is set at 5.5, pointing toward expectations of a moderate scoring pace, likely favoring the Wild if they can strike early and force Anaheim to open up. This contest could serve as a trap game for Minnesota if they overlook the tenacity of their opponent, and for Anaheim, it’s another chance to develop their young core, test themselves against a playoff-bound squad, and potentially play spoiler in a game that means everything to their opponent. Expect a fast-paced but physical game with playoff energy from one bench and developmental hunger from the other.