SAINT PAUL, Minn. (Interstat) — The Minnesota Wild defeated the Anaheim Ducks 3-2 in a National Hockey League game Tuesday night at Grand Casino Arena. Mason McTavish scored twice for the Ducks, including a late third-period goal, but the Wild’s balanced attack secured the win before an announced crowd of 19,008. Danila Yurov, Hunter Haight and Robby Fabbri scored for Minnesota, with Haight’s second-period marker proving to be the game-winner. Jesper Wallstedt made 34 saves for the Wild to earn the win. The victory improved Minnesota’s record to 46-36, while Anaheim fell to 42-39. The result aligned with a National Statistical projection that gave Minnesota a 65.1% probability to win.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (Interstat) — The Minnesota Wild, propelled by a relentless forecheck and a timely third-period goal, edged the Anaheim Ducks 3-2 in a tightly contested National Hockey League game Tuesday night at a sold-out Grand Casino Arena. A crowd of 19,008 watched as the Wild improved to 46-36, while the Ducks fell to 42-39 in a matchup with postseason implications for the home side. The game unfolded as a goaltending duel for much of the night, with Minnesota’s Jesper Wallstedt turning aside 34 of 36 shots to secure the victory. His counterpart, Anaheim’s Lukas Dostal, was nearly as sharp, making 32 saves but ultimately falling short. Anaheim struck first, capitalizing on early pressure. At the 10:27 mark of the opening period, Mason McTavish collected a pass from Jackson LaCombe and snapped a wrist shot past Wallstedt for his 16th goal of the season, assisted by LaCombe and Ryan Poehling. The Wild’s response was swift. Just over six minutes later, Danila Yurov evened the score, finishing a play set up by Vladimir Tarasenko at 16:42 to send the teams into the first intermission tied 1-1. Minnesota seized control in the second period with a grinding, physical effort. The breakthrough came late in the frame when rookie Hunter Haight notched his first career NHL goal. After a sustained cycle in the Anaheim zone, Nick Foligno fed Haight in the slot, and his quick wrist shot beat Dostal at 22:24. Marcus Johansson earned the secondary assist. The third period saw Anaheim push desperately for an equalizer, but Wallstedt stood firm. The Wild provided him with crucial insurance at 39:03. Following a strong shift from the checking line, Nicolas Aube-Kubel and Ben Jones combined to set up Robby Fabbri in front, who buried his second of the year to make it 3-1. The Ducks refused to go quietly. With Wallstedt pulled for an extra attacker, McTavish struck again, deflecting a Mikael Granlund shot with just 2:46 remaining in regulation. Cutter Gauthier picked up an assist on the play, McTavish’s 17th goal of the campaign. Anaheim continued to press in the final minutes, but the Wild defense, led by a stalwart performance from veteran Jeff Petry and several key shot blocks, clamped down to preserve the one-goal margin. McTavish was the standout performer for the Ducks, recording both goals on a team-high four shots. Granlund was active throughout, assisting on the late goal and firing three shots. Leo Carlsson also generated significant chances, leading all skaters with six shots on goal. For Minnesota, the victory was a product of depth scoring. Beyond Haight’s milestone goal and Fabbri’s winner, the line of Yurov, Tarasenko, and Bobby Brink was consistently dangerous. Foligno’s physical presence and assist were pivotal, while Jones contributed a helper and a team-high four hits. Center Nico Sturm was instrumental in the faceoff circle and defensive matchups, helping to neutralize Anaheim’s top lines. The game was disciplined, featuring only six minor penalties. Anaheim’s Beckett Sennecke and Minnesota’s Jeff Petry offset each other with roughing and cross-checking calls in the first period. The Wild were cited for three other infractions: Jake Middleton (tripping), Haight (slashing), and Michael McCarron (interference). Anaheim’s lone penalty was a delay of game for Dostal sending the puck over the glass. The result aligned with the pregame projection from National Statistical, which had forecast a 3-2 Minnesota victory and gave the Wild a 65.10 percent probability to win based on its ELO rating system. For Anaheim, the narrow loss continued a pattern of recent struggles, having dropped four of their last five games. They conclude a brief road trip in Nashville on Thursday. Minnesota, which had lost three of its last four entering the night, successfully began a critical homestand by holding serve against a Western Conference opponent. The win provides a boost as they continue their push in the standings.

SAINT PAUL, Minn. (Interstat) — A critical late-season matchup with playoff implications is set for Tuesday night when the Minnesota Wild host the Anaheim Ducks at Grand Casino Arena. The Wild (45-35-0) sit just ahead of the Ducks (42-38-0) in the tightly packed Western Conference standings, making this a pivotal two-point swing. National Statistical’s game simulator projects a 3-2 victory for Minnesota. Anaheim arrives after a 4-3 overtime loss to Vancouver on Sunday, despite a two-goal performance from rookie sensation Cutter Gauthier. The 22-year-old winger has been a bright spot, recording five goals in his last eight games. The Ducks’ recent form has been uneven, with a 3-5-2 record over their last 10 contests, including a 5-0 shutout loss to Nashville on April 7. Minnesota looks to rebound from a 2-1 road loss to Nashville on Saturday. Their recent stretch has been stronger at 6-4-0 in the last 10, including a dominant 5-2 win over Vancouver at home on April 2. Physical forward Michael McCarron, who scored the lone goal in Saturday’s loss, provides a sandpaper element for the Wild. He has logged 16 penalty minutes and 10 hits in his last 10 outings. The season series favors Minnesota, which has won both meetings this season. The Wild shut out the Ducks 2-0 in Saint Paul on Nov. 15, 2025, and earned a 5-2 victory in Anaheim on Jan. 2. For Anaheim, success will likely hinge on Gauthier’s continued offensive production and a more consistent defensive effort after allowing four or more goals in six of their last ten games. Minnesota will aim to leverage its home-ice advantage and physical play to extend its winning streak against the Ducks and solidify its playoff positioning. The Ducks continue a road trip in Nashville on Thursday. The Wild’s next game is also against the Predators, at home on Friday.