2021–22 Minnesota Wild season

The 2021–22 Minnesota Wild season was the 22nd season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on June 25, 1997. The Wild clinched a playoff spot after a 5–4 overtime win against the San Jose Sharks, which would be their ninth postseason appearance in the last 10 seasons. Despite setting franchise records in wins (53), and points (113), the Wild were upset in the first round by the St. Louis Blues, losing in six games.

Standings

Divisional standings

Conference standings

Schedule and results

Regular season The regular season schedule was released on July 22, 2021, with only about a handful of games scheduled in February because NHL players are planning to participate in the 2022 Winter Olympics. Ultimately, due to a surge in the COVID-19 pandemic, NHL players did not go to the Olympics, and the planned break in February was used to reschedule some games that had been postponed due to outbreaks of COVID-19 throughout the league in December and January.

2021–22 game logOctober: 5–3–0 (home: 2–1–0; road: 3–2–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 15 Minnesota 2–1 Anaheim Talbot 11,938 1–0–0 2 2 October 16 Minnesota 3–2 Los Angeles Talbot 12,590 2–0–0 4 3 October 19 Winnipeg 5–6 Minnesota OT Talbot 18,156 3–0–0 6 4 October 23 Anaheim 3–4 Minnesota OT Talbot 18,055 4–0–0 8 5 October 24 Nashville 5–2 Minnesota Kahkonen 16,014 4–1–0 8 6 October 26 Minnesota 3–2 Vancouver Talbot 18,870 5–1–0 10 7 October 28 Minnesota 1–4 Seattle Talbot 17,151 5–2–0 10 8 October 30 Minnesota 1–4 Colorado Talbot 17,708 5–3–0 10 November: 10–3–1 (home: 6–1–0; road: 4–2–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 9 November 2 Ottawa 4–5 Minnesota OT Talbot 15,276 6–3–0 12 10 November 6 Minnesota 5–4 Pittsburgh SO Talbot 17,181 7–3–0 14 11 November 7 NY Islanders 2–5 Minnesota Kahkonen 15,547 8–3–0 16 12 November 10 Minnesota 5–2 Arizona Kahkonen 13,488 9–3–0 18 13 November 11 Minnesota 2–3 Vegas Talbot 18,267 9–4–0 18 14 November 13 Minnesota 4–2 Seattle Talbot 17,151 10–4–0 20 15 November 16 San Jose 4–1 Minnesota Talbot 15,367 10–5–0 20 16 November 18 Dallas 2–7 Minnesota Talbot 17,088 11–5–0 22 17 November 20 Minnesota 4–5 Florida Talbot 13,854 11–6–0 22 18 November 21 Minnesota 4–5 Tampa Bay SO Kahkonen 19,092 11–6–1 23 19 November 24 Minnesota 3–2 New Jersey SO Talbot 14,763 12–6–1 25 20 November 26 Winnipeg 1–7 Minnesota Talbot 19,113 13–6–1 27 21 November 28 Tampa Bay 2–4 Minnesota Talbot 17,785 14–6–1 29 22 November 30 Arizona 2–5 Minnesota Kahkonen 16,239 15–6–1 31 December: 4–3–1 (home: 2–0–1; road: 2–3–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 23 December 2 New Jersey 2–5 Minnesota Kahkonen 16,112 16–6–1 33 24 December 4 Toronto 3–4 Minnesota SO Talbot 18,568 17–6–1 35 25 December 7 Minnesota 4–1 Edmonton Talbot 14,715 18–6–1 37 26 December 9 Minnesota 5–2 San Jose Talbot 10,782 19–6–1 39 27 December 11 Minnesota 1–2 Los Angeles Kahkonen 15,897 19–7–1 39 28 December 12 Minnesota 4–6 Vegas Talbot 18,001 19–8–1 39 — December 14 Carolina – Minnesota Postponed due to COVID-19. 29 December 16 Buffalo 3–2 Minnesota SO Talbot 18,022 19–8–2 40 — December 18 Florida – Minnesota Postponed due to COVID-19. 30 December 20 Minnesota 4–7 Dallas Talbot 18,237 19–9–2 40 — December 23 Detroit – Minnesota Postponed due to COVID-19. — December 27 Minnesota – Winnipeg Postponed due to COVID-19.January: 8–1–1 (home: 4–1–0; road: 4–0–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 31 January 1 St. Louis 6–4 Minnesota Talbot 38,619(outdoors) 19–10–2 40 — January 3 Minnesota – Ottawa Postponed due to COVID-19. 32 January 6 Minnesota 3–2 Boston Kahkonen 17,850 20–10–2 42 33 January 8 Washington 2–3 Minnesota SO Kahkonen 19,078 21–10–2 44 — January 10 Minnesota – Winnipeg Postponed due to COVID-19. — January 12 Minnesota – Edmonton Postponed due to COVID-19. 34 January 14 Anaheim 3–7 Minnesota Kahkonen 18,300 22–10–2 46 35 January 17 Minnesota 3–4 Colorado SO Kahkonen 17,565 22–10–3 47 36 January 21 Minnesota 5–1 Chicago Kahkonen 17,921 23–10–3 49 37 January 22 Chicago 3–4 Minnesota OT Kahkonen 19,092 24–10–3 51 38 January 24 Montreal 2–8 Minnesota Talbot 18,104 25–10–3 53 39 January 28 Minnesota 3–2 NY Rangers Talbot 18,006 26–10–3 55 40 January 30 Minnesota 4–3 NY Islanders Kahkonen 15,518 27–10–3 57 February: 4–6–0 (home: 2–1–0; road: 2–5–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 41 February 2 Minnesota 5–0 Chicago Talbot 16,373 28–10–3 59 42 February 8 Minnesota 0–2 Winnipeg Kahkonen 7,012 28–11–3 59 43 February 12 Carolina 2–3 Minnesota Talbot 18,802 29–11–3 61 44 February 14 Detroit 4–7 Minnesota Kahkonen 18,098 30–11–3 63 45 February 16 Minnesota 3–6 Winnipeg Talbot 12,527 30–12–3 63 46 February 18 Florida 6–2 Minnesota Talbot 18,300 30–13–3 63 47 February 20 Minnesota 7–3 Edmonton Kahkonen 9,150 31–13–3 65 48 February 22 Minnesota 3–4 Ottawa Talbot 7,602 31–14–3 65 49 February 24 Minnesota 1–3 Toronto Kahkonen 9,410 31–15–3 65 50 February 26 Minnesota 3–7 Calgary Kahkonen 9,639 31–16–3 65 March: 10–4–2 (home: 8–3–1; road: 2–1–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 51 March 1 Calgary 5–1 Minnesota Talbot 16,998 31–17–3 65 52 March 3 Minnesota 5–4 Philadelphia Talbot 13,876 32–17–3 67 53 March 4 Minnesota 4–5 Buffalo Kahkonen 8,462 32–18–3 67 54 March 6 Dallas 6–3 Minnesota Kahkonen 18,791 32–19–3 67 55 March 8 NY Rangers 2–5 Minnesota Talbot 18,356 33–19–3 69 56 March 10 Minnesota 6–5 Detroit SO Talbot 17,461 34–19–3 71 57 March 11 Minnesota 2–3 Columbus SO Kahkonen 16,399 34–19–4 72 58 March 13 Nashville 6–2 Minnesota Kahkonen 19,009 34–20–4 72 59 March 16 Boston 2–4 Minnesota Talbot 17,956 35–20–4 74 60 March 19 Chicago 1–3 Minnesota Talbot 19,226 36–20–4 76 61 March 21 Vegas 0–3 Minnesota Talbot 17,498 37–20–4 78 62 March 24 Vancouver 2–3 Minnesota OT Talbot 17,333 38–20–4 80 63 March 26 Columbus 2–3 Minnesota OT Fleury 19,089 39–20–4 82 64 March 27 Colorado 2–3 Minnesota OT Talbot 19,140 40–20–4 84 65 March 29 Philadelphia 1–4 Minnesota Fleury 17,874 41–20–4 86 66 March 31 Pittsburgh 4–3 Minnesota OT Talbot 18,978 41–20–5 87 April: 12–2–2 (home: 7–1–0; road: 5–1–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 67 April 2 Minnesota 3–1 Carolina Fleury 16,375 42–20–5 89 68 April 3 Minnesota 5–1 Washington Talbot 18,573 43–20–5 91 69 April 5 Minnesota 2–6 Nashville Fleury 17,244 43–21–5 91 70 April 8 Minnesota 3–4 St. Louis OT Talbot 18,096 43–21–6 92 71 April 10 Los Angeles 3–6 Minnesota Fleury 19,104 44–21–6 94 72 April 12 Edmonton 1–5 Minnesota Talbot 19,035 45–21–6 96 73 April 14 Minnesota 3–2 Dallas OT Fleury 18,110 46–21–6 98 74 April 16 Minnesota 5–6 St. Louis OT Talbot 18,096 46–21–7 99 75 April 17 San Jose 4–5 Minnesota OT Fleury 19,029 47–21–7 101 76 April 19 Minnesota 2–0 Montreal Talbot 20,725 48–21–7 103 77 April 21 Vancouver 3–6 Minnesota Talbot 17,894 49–21–7 105 78 April 22 Seattle 3–6 Minnesota Fleury 19,047 50–21–7 107 79 April 24 Minnesota 5–4 Nashville OT Fleury 17,160 51–21–7 109 80 April 26 Arizona 5–3 Minnesota Fleury 18,383 51–22–7 109 81 April 28 Calgary 2–3 Minnesota OT Talbot 18,490 52–22–7 111 82 April 29 Colorado 1–4 Minnesota Fleury 19,261 53–22–7 113 Legend:

Playoffs

2022 Stanley Cup playoffsWestern Conference first round vs. (C3) St. Louis Blues: St. Louis won 4–2 # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Series Recap 1 May 2 St. Louis 4–0 Minnesota Fleury 19,053 0–1 2 May 4 St. Louis 2–6 Minnesota Fleury 19,376 1–1 3 May 6 Minnesota 5–1 St. Louis Fleury 18,096 2–1 4 May 8 Minnesota 2–5 St. Louis Fleury 18,096 2–2 5 May 10 St. Louis 5–2 Minnesota Fleury 19,197 2–3 6 May 12 Minnesota 1–5 St. Louis Talbot 18,096 2–4 Legend:

Player statistics As of May 13, 2022

Skaters

Regular season Player 81 47 61 108 +27 34 82 33 52 85 +23 52 70 24 55 79 +21 24 82 34 31 65 +31 95 77 26 23 49 +16 28 76 14 30 44 +12 8 74 23 19 42 +25 112 65 10 30 40 +32 10 47 15 24 39 +17 10 73 5 25 30 +9 18 72 2 28 30 +41 34 62 10 17 27 +26 69 57 7 20 27 +9 47 80 7 17 24 +23 39 69 4 16 20 +15 22 ‡ 53 9 8 17 −5 8 80 6 11 17 −2 122 57 7 6 13 −2 20 ‡ 29 5 8 13 +7 2 ‡ 20 6 5 11 +1 12 39 1 7 8 +1 10 † 21 2 4 6 0 4 35 2 4 6 −4 25 † 21 1 4 5 +7 13 15 2 2 4 −4 2 † 20 3 0 3 −2 23 1 0 1 1 0 2 3 0 1 1 −1 2 5 0 0 0 −3 0 2 0 0 0 +2 0 3 0 0 0 −2 5 1 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 +1 0 2 0 0 0 −1 4

Playoffs Player 6 7 1 8 1 2 6 3 2 5 1 8 6 0 5 5 0 2 6 1 3 4 −1 2 6 1 2 3 −2 2 6 0 3 3 1 4 6 0 3 3 −5 16 6 1 1 2 0 6 6 0 2 2 1 14 6 1 0 1 4 2 6 1 0 1 −1 0 6 1 0 1 −1 4 6 0 1 1 −6 0 6 0 1 1 6 2 2 0 1 1 −4 2 6 0 0 0 0 4 6 0 0 0 −2 2 5 0 0 0 −3 0 4 0 0 0 −3 2 1 0 0 0 0 0

Goaltenders Regular season Player 49 48 2,864:23 32 12 4 132 2.76 1,488 .911 3 0 1 2 ‡ 25 23 1,380:05 12 8 3 66 2.87 734 .910 0 0 1 2 † 11 11 657:54 9 2 0 30 2.74 334 .910 0 0 1 0

Playoffs Player 5 5 296:28 2 3 15 3.04 159 .906 0 0 0 0 1 1 57:53 0 1 4 4.14 26 .846 0 0 0 0 †Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Wild. Stats reflect time with the Wild only. ‡Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Wild only. Bold/italics denotes franchise record.

Transactions The Wild have been involved in the following transactions during the 2021–22 season.

Trades Date Details Ref To Edmonton Oilers1st-round pick in 2021PIT 3rd-round pick in 2021 To Minnesota Wild1st-round pick in 2021 To Montreal Canadiens5th-round pick in 20217th-round pick in 2021 To Minnesota Wild4th-round pick in 2021 To Toronto Maple LeafsBrennan Menell To Minnesota WildConditional1 7th-round pick in 2022 To St. Louis BluesWill Bitten To Minnesota WildNolan Stevens To Montreal CanadiensAndrew Hammond To Minnesota WildBrandon Baddock To Colorado AvalancheNico Sturm To Minnesota WildTyson Jost To Anaheim Ducks3rd-round pick in 2023 To Minnesota WildNicolas Deslauriers To Arizona CoyotesJack McBain To Minnesota WildVAN 2nd-round pick in 2022 To San Jose SharksKaapo Kahkonen5th-round pick in 2022 To Minnesota WildJacob Middleton To Chicago BlackhawksConditional2 2nd-round pick in 2022 To Minnesota WildMarc-Andre Fleury To Los Angeles KingsKevin Fiala To Minnesota WildBrock Faber1st-round pick in 2022 Notes: Minnesota will receive a 7th-round pick in 2022 if Mennell plays 30 games for Toronto in 2021–22; otherwise no pick will be exchanged. Chicago will receive Minnesota's 1st-round pick in 2022 if they reach the 2022 Western Conference Final and Fleury has at least four wins in the first two rounds; otherwise they will receive a 2nd-round pick.

Players acquired Date Player Former team Term Via Ref Frederick Gaudreau Pittsburgh Penguins 2-year Free agency Alex Goligoski Arizona Coyotes 1-year Free agency Joe Hicketts Detroit Red Wings 2-year Free agency Dmitry Kulikov Edmonton Oilers 2-year Free agency Jon Lizotte Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL) 1-year Free agency Dominic Turgeon Detroit Red Wings 1-year Free agency Kevin Czuczman Pittsburgh Penguins 1-year Free agency Jon Merrill Montreal Canadiens 1-year Free agency Jordie Benn Winnipeg Jets 1-year Free agency Rem Pitlick Nashville Predators Waivers Zane McIntyre Tucson Roadrunners (AHL) 1-year Free agency

Players lost