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In a thrilling matchup on January 15, 2025, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, the Edmonton Oilers secured a 5-3 victory over the Minnesota Wild. This win marked Edmonton’s seventh triumph in their past eight games, underscoring their current dominance in the league.
Connor McDavid was the standout player of the night, contributing two goals and an assist. His performance elevated him to second place on the Oilers’ all-time points list with 1,044 points, surpassing Hall of Famer Jari Kurri. Wayne Gretzky remains the franchise leader with 1,669 points.
The game commenced with the Wild taking an early lead. Matt Boldy opened the scoring with a power-play goal at 3:02 of the first period, maneuvering past a defender to beat Oilers’ goaltender Calvin Pickard. Later in the period, Boldy assisted Marco Rossi, who netted another power-play goal at 16:11, extending Minnesota’s lead to 2-0.
The Oilers responded swiftly. Just 21 seconds after Rossi’s goal, Zach Hyman scored on a backhand shot, reducing the deficit to 2-1. McDavid then tied the game at 2-2 with a power-play goal at 18:28, firing a wrist shot from the right circle.
In the second period, the Wild regained the lead when Ryan Hartman capitalized on a loose puck, scoring at 4:09 to make it 3-2. However, the Oilers equalized once more as Ryan Nugent-Hopkins deflected a point shot into the net at 14:15, leveling the score at 3-3.
The decisive moment came early in the third period. Vasily Podkolzin’s centering pass deflected off a Wild defenseman’s skate and into the net at 1:28, giving Edmonton a 4-3 lead. McDavid sealed the victory with his second goal of the night at 12:39, executing a precise wrist shot during a two-on-one break.
Calvin Pickard was solid in goal for the Oilers, making 31 saves. His counterpart, Filip Gustavsson of the Wild, also stopped 31 shots but allowed five goals. Despite the loss, Minnesota’s performance was commendable, with Boldy leading the team with a goal and an assist. Wild coach John Hynes expressed disappointment in the result but praised his team’s effort, stating, “I thought that we deserved better tonight… I got a lot of time and respect for the way our team played tonight.”
This victory not only highlights the Oilers’ current form but also emphasizes McDavid’s exceptional talent and leadership. His rapid ascent up the franchise’s all-time points list is a testament to his consistent excellence on the ice. As the season progresses, Edmonton’s recent performances position them as formidable contenders, while the Wild will look to rebound and build on the positives from this closely contested game.
