Wild’s 7-3 Victory Over Oilers Marked by Hughes’ Defensive Streak Record

EDMONTON (Azat TV) – The Minnesota Wild delivered a decisive 7-3 defeat to the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday night at Rogers Place, a game notably highlighted by defenseman Quinn Hughes extending his point streak to eight games, setting a new franchise record for blueliners. The loss abruptly halted the Oilers’ three-game winning streak and underscored their ongoing defensive challenges, particularly in goal.

Hughes, who contributed a goal and an assist in the Wild’s victory, solidified his place in franchise history with his consistent offensive output from the defensive position. The Wild’s win also marked their third consecutive triumph and extended their point streak to five games, capping off a clean sweep of the three-game season series against the Oilers.

Hughes’ Historic Achievement and Wild’s Offensive Surge

Quinn Hughes’ performance was a central narrative of the night, as his goal and assist propelled him to an eight-game point streak, a new benchmark for defensemen in the Minnesota Wild franchise. Hughes’ second attempt on net, which found its way past Oilers goaltender Tristan Jarry, was a testament to his offensive instincts. His consistent contributions have been a key factor in the Wild’s recent success, as they have now secured points in five straight contests.

The Wild’s offense was potent throughout the game, with Joel Eriksson Ek, Mats Zuccarello, and Brock Faber each tallying a goal and an assist. Kirill Kaprizov, Vladimir Tarasenko, and Tyler Pitlick also found the back of the net for Minnesota. Goaltender Jesper Wallstedt was solid, stopping 39 shots to secure the win for the Wild.

Oilers’ Defensive Struggles and Jarry’s Performance

For the Edmonton Oilers, the 7-3 loss was a stark reminder of their defensive vulnerabilities. Despite taking two separate leads in the first period through goals from Leon Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, the Wild quickly answered back, often capitalizing on power-play opportunities. Draisaitl notched his 27th goal of the season, and Nugent-Hopkins his 13th, while German rookie Josh Samanski recorded his first career NHL point with an assist on Jack Roslovic’s third-period consolation goal.

Goaltender Tristan Jarry faced significant pressure, allowing five goals on 20 shots before being pulled midway through the second period. His save percentage for the season now stands at .870 over nine games with the Oilers. Head coach Kris Knoblauch acknowledged the need for better saves but emphasized that the team’s overall defensive play required improvement, stating, ‘We could get another save…. the quality of the chances is something that has to be addressed.’

Jarry, who has been working to regain form since returning from injury, attributed some of the struggles to defensive breakdowns and unlucky bounces. ‘It’s tough, I think the chances that we’re giving up, some of the shots, they’re tough. I think it’s a lot of Grade As and a lot of breakdowns, so I think it’s tough to think about your game at this point. I think it’s a whole team game,’ Jarry explained, also noting an ‘unlucky bounce off our defenseman’ for one of the goals. Knoblauch, while defending Jarry’s return from injury, also assessed his game as a ‘work in progress,’ noting it was ‘not nearly the level he was playing at before.’

Looking Ahead for Both Franchises

The Minnesota Wild, now with a 31-14-10 record, will aim to continue their strong run as they host the Montreal Canadiens on Monday night. Their convincing win over the Oilers, coupled with Hughes’ record-setting performance, provides significant momentum as they approach the Olympic break.

The Edmonton Oilers (28-19-8) have a demanding schedule ahead to conclude their eight-game homestand and their pre-Olympic break schedule. They are set to host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday night, followed by the second of a back-to-back in the Battle of Alberta against the Calgary Flames on Wednesday. The coaching staff and players alike have indicated a clear focus on tightening up their defensive play and managing the puck more effectively in these upcoming critical matchups. The team’s ability to integrate Jarry back to his pre-injury form will be crucial for their playoff aspirations.

The Minnesota Wild’s dominant performance and Quinn Hughes’ record-setting point streak underscore a significant shift in the team’s trajectory, while the Edmonton Oilers face critical evaluations of their defensive structure and goaltending consistency as they navigate a challenging stretch of their season.