Wild beat skidding Kraken 5-2 for 4th straight win, setting up showdown with Stars

Minnesota trails Dallas by two points for second place in the Central Division and Western Conference heading into their showdown on Thursday.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 5:48am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting an abstract hockey game, with angular shapes in shades of blue, green, and red representing the players and puck on the ice.The Wild's victory over the Kraken sets the stage for a high-stakes showdown with the Stars as both teams vie for playoff positioning.Seattle Today

The Minnesota Wild defeated the Seattle Kraken 5-2 on Tuesday night, winning their fourth straight game and sweeping the season series against Seattle. Vladimir Tarasenko scored the go-ahead goal in the second period, and Matt Boldy had a goal and an assist for the Wild. Minnesota now trails the Dallas Stars by two points for second place in the Central Division and Western Conference, setting up a crucial showdown between the two teams on Thursday.

Why it matters

This win keeps the Wild in contention for a higher playoff seed, which could be crucial in their upcoming first-round playoff series against the Stars. The game on Thursday will determine which team has home-ice advantage in that series.

The details

The Wild twice benefited from replay reviews in the game. Boldy's first-period goal was initially ruled no goal, but video review overturned the call. In the second period, a goal by the Kraken's Jaden Schwartz was reviewed and overturned, with officials ruling that former Wild forward Frederick Gaudreau had held down Wallstedt's glove hand, preventing him from making the save. Marcus Johansson also scored his 200th career goal in the third period to make it 4-2 Wild.

  • The game took place on Tuesday, April 8, 2026.
  • The Wild and Stars will face off on Thursday, April 10, 2026.

The players

Vladimir Tarasenko

A forward for the Minnesota Wild who scored the go-ahead goal in the second period.

Matt Boldy

A forward for the Minnesota Wild who had a goal and an assist in the game.

Marcus Johansson

A forward for the Minnesota Wild who scored his 200th career goal in the third period.

Jesper Wallstedt

The goaltender for the Minnesota Wild who made 25 saves to earn the win.

Brandon Montour

A defenseman for the Seattle Kraken who scored a goal in the first period.

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What’s next

The Wild will travel to Dallas to face the Stars on Thursday, April 10, 2026, in a game that will determine home-ice advantage for their upcoming first-round playoff series.

The takeaway

The Wild's win over the skidding Kraken, coupled with their upcoming showdown against the Stars, sets the stage for a crucial final stretch of the regular season as both teams jockey for playoff positioning in the Western Conference.