The 2025-26 NHL season heats up with a Western Conference showdown between the Edmonton Oilers and the streaking Minnesota Wild. Edmonton, powered by superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, aims to climb the Pacific Division standings despite goaltending concerns, while Minnesota, riding a six-game winning streak, looks to solidify its position in the Central Division with strong defensive play and timely scoring. This matinee matchup could feature high-end skill and physicality, with special teams potentially deciding the outcome in a game with playoff implications early in the campaign.
Venue Location
The game will take place at Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota. This 18,006-seat arena has been the Wild’s home since 2000 and is known for its passionate fans and challenging atmosphere for visiting teams.
Puck drop is scheduled for 3:00 PM ET. The game will be broadcast on NHL Network, with local feeds on Sportsnet for Oilers fans and Bally Sports North for Wild viewers. Streaming is available via ESPN+.
Team Records
Edmonton Oilers: 17-12-4 (38 points), 4th in the Pacific Division.
Minnesota Wild: 21-9-5 (47 points), 2nd in the Central Division.
Recent Team Forms
Edmonton has been inconsistent lately, going 4-1-0 in their last five games with a +7 goal differential. They most recently defeated the Boston Bruins 3-1 on December 18, following a 6-4 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins where Leon Draisaitl reached his 1,000th NHL point. Earlier victories included shutouts and close contests, but a loss snapped a brief streak. The Oilers have averaged 3.6 goals for and 2.6 against in this stretch, with a power play at 24% and penalty kill at 82%, relying on star power but facing goaltending flux.
Minnesota is scorching hot with a six-game winning streak, including a 5-2 triumph over the Columbus Blue Jackets on December 18 where Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy combined for key points. Prior wins featured shutouts and overtime thrillers, like 4-0 over Pittsburgh and 3-2 OT vs. Winnipeg. Over the streak, the Wild have averaged 4.0 goals for and 1.8 against, with a power play at 28% and penalty kill at 90%, showcasing elite defense and opportunistic scoring.
| Team | Last 5 Games | Streak | Goals For/Against (Last 5) | PP% (Season) | PK% (Season) |
| Edmonton Oilers | 4-1-0 | W2 | 18/13 | 23.5% | 81.2% |
| Minnesota Wild | 5-0-0 | W6 | 20/9 | 24.8% | 85.6% |
Series History
The Wild hold a strong all-time regular-season edge over the Oilers, leading 64-43 in 107 meetings, with Minnesota winning 33 of 54 at home. Recently, Edmonton has struggled, going 4-12 straight up in their last 16 against Minnesota, though they’ve won 5 of their last 6 on the road overall. Games average 5.8 goals in the last 10 head-to-heads, with the home team prevailing in 7 of those. This is the first of three scheduled matchups this season, following Minnesota’s dominance in recent years.
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Injury Report
Edmonton Oilers: Goaltender Tristan Jarry (Out – Lower-body injury, placed on IR December 19; indefinite, recalled Connor Ingram as backup). Forward Jack Roslovic (Out – LTIR, undisclosed). The Oilers have seven players on the report, severely impacting goaltending stability and depth scoring.
Minnesota Wild: Forward Danila Yurov (Out – Lower-body, since December 2). Defenseman Jake Middleton (Out – Upper-body, since December 11). Forward Mats Zuccarello (Out – Upper-body, since December 11; expected 7-8 weeks). Defenseman Jonas Brodin (Out – Upper-body, since December 13). Forward Marcus Johansson (Day-to-day – Lower-body, December 19). Defenseman Zach Bogosian (Day-to-day – Lower-body, December 19). The Wild’s depth is tested, particularly on defense and secondary scoring.
Player Matchups
This contest features elite talent on both sides, with projected lineups highlighting offensive fireworks despite injuries:
Connor McDavid (EDM, C) vs. Kirill Kaprizov (MIN, LW): McDavid (4 goals in last 5, elite speed) drives Edmonton’s attack, but Kaprizov (6 goals, 5 assists in streak) counters with dynamic scoring in a superstar showdown.
Leon Draisaitl (EDM, C) vs. Matt Boldy (MIN, RW): Draisaitl (5 assists recently, 1,000th point milestone) brings playmaking, facing Boldy’s hot streak (goals and assists in wins) on the wing.
Zach Hyman (EDM, RW) vs. Marcus Johansson (MIN, LW): Hyman (net-front presence) tests Johansson (day-to-day but key if playing) in a battle for secondary scoring.
Stuart Skinner (EDM, G) vs. Filip Gustavsson (MIN, G): Skinner (expected starter post-Jarry injury; 2.65 GAA) vs. Gustavsson (recent shutouts; 2.35 GAA), where Minnesota’s edge could limit Edmonton’s shots.
Minnesota’s defensive injuries may expose them to Edmonton’s top line.
Betting Trends
Minnesota has gone over 6.5 goals in 14 of 35 games this season, but unders have hit in 6 of their last 8 amid strong defense. The Wild are 6-3 ATS at home as favorites. Edmonton is 4-12 straight up in their last 16 vs. Minnesota but 5-1 straight up in their last 6 on the road overall, with overs in 4 of their last 6 away. Head-to-head, the total has gone over in 4 of Edmonton’s last 6 vs. Minnesota. League-wide, unders are trending at 55% in December games with injury-impacted teams.
Game Odds
Edmonton Oilers 6.5
Minnesota Wild – 130
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, December 19, 2025
