The Wild Vs Blackhawks matchup at the United Center kicks off at 7: 30 pm ET with Minnesota’s top scorers and Chicago’s rookie star set for a high-profile clash — and Nick Foligno making his first trip back to Chicago since the trade that moved him to Minnesota.
Matchup Snapshot: Kaprizov, Boldy Push For 40 While Bedard Chases Milestones
Minnesota enters the game with two potent scorers in Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy, each sitting on 38 goals and within reach of a 40-goal season. Kaprizov is in position to reach 40 for the fourth time in six NHL seasons, while Boldy would hit the milestone for the first time in his five-year career. Both players are pacing toward at least 90 points, a mark that would be the first time the Wild have two 90-point players in the same season.
On the Chicago side, Connor Bedard leads the team with 62 points (27 goals, 35 assists) and, despite missing 12 games with a shoulder injury, is six points shy of surpassing his NHL career-high of 67 and seeking his first 30-goal campaign. Minnesota arrives after a stretch of struggles at home, going 0-2-1 in its last three at home, while Chicago has pushed four of its past six games to overtime, going 2-2-2 in that span. The game is the first nightcap of an NHL on TNT doubleheader at the United Center.
Wild Vs Blackhawks: Foligno Returns To Chicago For First Game Since Trade
Nick Foligno faces his former team for the first time since Minnesota acquired him in a trade on March 6. The veteran forward said he cherishes his time in Chicago and made a point of reconnecting with former teammates, including having dinner with Connor Bedard and others on the eve of the game. Foligno played an important leadership role in Chicago after arriving in a prior trade and was named the franchise’s 35th captain in September 2024.
In Chicago, Foligno totaled 35 goals and 48 assists in 189 games. His brother Marcus remains on injured reserve with a lower-body issue, so the pair have not yet been able to play together in Minnesota. Foligno has recorded one assist in five games with his new club going into the matchup, and Wild coach John Hynes praised his fit with the team and the experience he brings to the locker room.
Projected Lines, Goaltending and How To Watch
The Wild are expected to deploy an offensive group led by Kaprizov and Boldy, with depth contributors providing secondary scoring. Minnesota is slated to start Filip Gustavsson in net for this game, while Chicago is set to start Spencer Knight after a recent lineup update that left a long-time regular as a healthy scratch.
Chicago’s top center situation is affected by an absence at the position, giving Minnesota an edge down the middle, though the Blackhawks remain dangerous around Bedard. Nick Foligno is projected to slot onto Minnesota’s fourth line and will receive a warm reception when he returns to the United Center.
The game will be nationally televised in the United States on TNT and available on HBO MAX, with local radio coverage in the Chicagoland area. The teams meet again later in the week in St. Paul, continuing the divisional schedule and offering a quick opportunity for response depending on tonight’s result.
