2020–21 Minnesota Wild season explained

The 2020–21 Minnesota Wild season was the 21st season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on June 25, 1997.^[1] This was the first time since the 2005–06 season that Mikko Koivu was not on the roster after he signed a contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets. On December 20, 2020, the league temporarily realigned into four divisions with no conferences due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing closure of the Canada–United States border. As a result of this realignment, the Wild would play this season in the West Division and would only play games against the other teams in their new division during the regular season and potentially the first two rounds of the playoffs.

On April 24, 2021, the Wild clinched a playoff berth after a 6–3 win against the San Jose Sharks.^[2] They were eliminated from the playoffs with a 6–2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on May 28, after coming back from a 3–1 series deficit to force game seven.

Standings

Divisional standings

Schedule and results

Regular season

The regular season schedule was published on December 23, 2020.^[3]

2020–21 game log: 35–16–5 (Home: 21–5–2 ; Road: 14–11–3)
January: 6–4–0 (Home: 3–3–0 ; Road: 3–1–0) Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 January 14 Minnesota 4–3 OT 0 1–0–0 2 ^[4] 2 January 16 Minnesota 4–3 Los Angeles OT Talbot 0 2–0–0 4 ^[5] 3 January 18 Minnesota 0–1 Talbot 0 2–1–0 4 ^[6] 4 January 20 Minnesota 3–2 Anaheim 0 3–1–0 6 ^[7] 5 January 22 1–4 Minnesota Kahkonen 0 4–1–0 8 ^[8] 6 January 24 San Jose 5–3 Minnesota Kahkonen 0 4–2–0 8 ^[9] 7 January 26 Los Angeles 2–1 Minnesota Kahkonen 0 4–3–0 8 ^[10] 8 January 28 Los Angeles 3–5 Minnesota Kahkonen 0 5–3–0 10 ^[11] 9 January 30 5–1 Minnesota Kahkonen 0 5–4–0 10 ^[12] 10 January 31 Colorado 3–4 Minnesota OT Talbot 0 6–4–0 12 ^[13]
February: 6–2–0 (Home: 2–0–0 ; Road: 4–2–0) Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 11 February 2 Minnesota 1–2 0 6–5–0 12 ^[14] — February 4 Minnesota – Colorado Postponed due to COVID-19.^[15] Rescheduled for February 24.^[16] — February 6 – Minnesota Postponed due to COVID-19. Rescheduled for March 16. — February 7 Arizona – Minnesota Postponed due to COVID-19. Rescheduled for April 14. — February 9 – Minnesota Postponed due to COVID-19. Rescheduled for April 12. — February 11 St. Louis – Minnesota Postponed due to COVID-19.^[17] Rescheduled for March 25. — February 13 Minnesota – Postponed due to COVID-19. Rescheduled for April 23. 12 February 16 Minnesota 0–4 Los Angeles 0 6–6–0 12 ^[18] 13 February 18 Minnesota 3–1 Kahkonen 0 7–6–0 14 ^[19] 14 February 20 Minnesota 5–1 Anaheim Kahkonen 0 8–6–0 16 ^[20] 15 February 22 Minnesota 6–2 Kahkonen 0 9–6–0 18 ^[21] 16 February 24 Minnesota 6–2 Colorado Kahkonen 0 10–6–0 20 ^[22] 17 February 26 Los Angeles 1–3 Minnesota Talbot 0 11–6–0 22 ^[23] 18 February 27 Los Angeles 3–4 Minnesota OT Kahkonen 0 12–6–0 24 ^[24]
March: 9–5–2 (Home: 8–0–0 ; Road: 1–5–2) Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 19 March 1 Minnesota 4–5 OT 2,605 12–6–1 25 ^[25] 20 March 3 Minnesota 1–5 Vegas Talbot 2,610 12–7–1 25 ^[26] 21 March 5 Minnesota 5–1 2,541 13–7–1 27 ^[27] 22 March 6 Minnesota 2–5 Arizona Talbot 3,141 13–8–1 27 ^[28] 23 March 8 Vegas 0–2 Minnesota Kahkonen 0 14–8–1 29 ^[29] 24 March 10 Vegas 3–4 Minnesota Kahkonen 0 15–8–1 31 ^[30] 25 March 12 Arizona 0–4 Minnesota Talbot 0 16–8–1 33 ^[31] 26 March 14 Arizona 1–4 Minnesota Talbot 0 17–8–1 35 ^[32] 27 March 16 Arizona 0–3 Minnesota Kahkonen 0 18–8–1 37 ^[33] 28 March 18 Minnesota 1–5 Talbot 0 18–9–1 37 ^[34] 29 March 20 Minnesota 0–6 Colorado Kahkonen 0 18–10–1 37 ^[35] 30 March 22 1–2 Minnesota Talbot 0 19–10–1 39 ^[36] 31 March 24 Anaheim 2–3 Minnesota Talbot 0 20–10–1 41 ^[37] 32 March 25 0–2 Minnesota Talbot 0 21–10–1 43 ^[38] 33 March 29 Minnesota 3–4 SO Talbot 0 21–10–2 44 ^[39] 34 March 31 Minnesota 2–4 San Jose Kahkonen 0 21–11–2 44 ^[40]
April: 10–3–2 (Home: 4–2–1 ; Road: 6–1–1) Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 35 April 1 Minnesota 3–2 SO 3,950 22–11–2 46 ^[41] 36 April 3 Minnesota 2–1 Vegas Talbot 3,950 23–11–2 48 ^[42] 37 April 5 5–4 Minnesota Talbot 3,000 23–12–2 48 ^[43] 38 April 7 Colorado 3–8 Minnesota Talbot 3,000 24–12–2 50 ^[44] 39 April 9 Minnesota 1–9 — 24–13–2 50 ^[45] 40 April 10 Minnesota 2–3 St. Louis OT Talbot — 24–13–3 51 ^[46] — April 12 St. Louis – Minnesota Postponed due to the Brooklyn Center shooting.^[47] Rescheduled for May 12. 41 April 14 2–5 Minnesota Talbot 3,000 25–13–3 53 ^[48] 42 April 16 2–3 Minnesota Talbot 3,000 26–13–3 55 ^[49] 43 April 17 San Jose 2–5 Minnesota Kahkonen 3,000 27–13–3 57 ^[50] 44 April 19 Minnesota 5–2 Arizona Talbot 3,481 28–13–3 59 ^[51] 45 April 21 Minnesota 4–1 Arizona Talbot 3,736 29–13–3 61 ^[52] 46 April 23 Minnesota 4–2 Los Angeles Talbot 1,091 30–13–3 63 ^[53] 47 April 24 Minnesota 6–3 San Jose Kahkonen 0 31–13–3 65 ^[54] 48 April 28 St. Louis 4–3 Minnesota Talbot 3,000 31–14–3 65 ^[55] 49 April 29 St. Louis 5–4 Minnesota OT Talbot 3,000 31–14–4 66 ^[56]
May: 4–2–1 (Home: 4–0–1 ; Road: 0–2–0) Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 50 May 1 3–4 Minnesota OT 3,000 32–14–4 68 ^[57] 51 May 3 5–6 Minnesota 3,000 33–14–4 70 ^[58] 52 May 5 Vegas 3–2 Minnesota OT Talbot 3,000 33–14–5 71 ^[59] 53 May 7 3–4 Minnesota OT Kahkonen 3,000 34–14–5 73 ^[60] 54 May 8 Anaheim 3–4 Minnesota OT Talbot 3,300 35–14–5 75 ^[61] 55 May 12 Minnesota 0–4 St. Louis Talbot — 35–15–5 75 ^[62] 56 May 13 Minnesota 3–7 St. Louis Kahkonen — 35–16–5 75 ^[63]
Legend:

Playoffs

See main article: 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs.

2021 Stanley Cup playoffs
West Division First Round vs. (W2) Vegas Golden Knights: Vegas won 4–3 Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Series Recap 1 May 16 Minnesota 1–0 Vegas OT 8,683 1–0 ^[64] 2 May 18 Minnesota 1–3 Vegas Talbot 8,683 1–1 ^[65] 3 May 20 Vegas 5–2 Minnesota Talbot 4,500 1–2 ^[66] 4 May 22 Vegas 4–0 Minnesota Talbot 4,500 1–3 ^[67] 5 May 24 Minnesota 4–2 Vegas Talbot 12,156 2–3 ^[68] 6 May 26 Vegas 0–3 Minnesota Talbot 4,500 3–3 ^[69] 7 May 28 Minnesota 2–6 Vegas Talbot 12,156 3–4 ^[70]
Legend:

Draft picks

See also: List of Minnesota Wild draft picks. Below are the Minnesota Wild's selections at the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, which was originally scheduled for June 26–27, 2020, at the Bell Center in Montreal, Quebec, but was postponed on March 25, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was held on October 6–7, 2020, virtually via video conference call from the NHL Network studios in Secaucus, New Jersey.

Round		Player	Pos	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team (League)
1	9	Marco Rossi	C	Austria	Ottawa 67's (OHL)
2	37	Marat Khusnutdinov	C	Russia	SKA-1946 (MHL)
2	39	Ryan O'Rourke	D	Canada	Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)
3	65	Daemon Hunt	D	Canada	Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
5	146	Pavel Novak	RW	Czech Republic	Kelowna Rockets (WHL)

Notes and References

1. Book: National Hockey League . The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book/2014 . 2013 . Diamond Sports Data, Inc. . 73 . 978-1-894801-26-3 .
2. Web site: Wild defeat Sharks, clinch playoff berth with seventh straight win . NHL.com . April 24, 2021 . April 24, 2021.
3. Web site: 2020-21 NHL schedule announced . NHL.com . December 24, 2020 . December 23, 2020.
4. Web site: Minnesota Wild - Los Angeles Kings - January 14th, 2021. NHL.com.
5. Web site: Minnesota Wild - Los Angeles Kings - January 16th, 2021. NHL.com.
6. Web site: Minnesota Wild - Anaheim Ducks - January 18th, 2021. NHL.com.
7. Web site: Minnesota Wild - Anaheim Ducks - January 20th, 2021. NHL.com.
8. Web site: San Jose Sharks - Minnesota Wild - January 22nd, 2021. NHL.com.
9. Web site: San Jose Sharks - Minnesota Wild - January 24th, 2021. NHL.com.
10. Web site: Los Angeles Kings - Minnesota Wild - January 26th, 2021. NHL.com.
11. Web site: Los Angeles Kings - Minnesota Wild - January 28th, 2021. NHL.com.
12. Web site: Colorado Avalanche - Minnesota Wild - January 30th, 2021. NHL.com.
13. Web site: Colorado Avalanche - Minnesota Wild - January 31st, 2021. NHL.com.
14. Web site: Minnesota Wild - Colorado Avalanche - February 2nd, 2021. NHL.com.
15. Web site: Wild have four games postponed; players added to NHL COVID-19 protocol . NHL.com . February 3, 2021 . February 3, 2021.
16. Web site: NHL announces updates to regular-season schedule . NHL.com . February 17, 2021 . February 16, 2021.
17. Web site: NHL postpones additional Devils, Sabres, Wild games due to COVID-19 . NHL.com . February 8, 2021 . February 8, 2021.
18. Web site: Minnesota Wild - Los Angeles Kings - February 16th, 2021. NHL.com.
19. Web site: Minnesota Wild - Anaheim Ducks - February 18th, 2021. NHL.com.
20. Web site: Minnesota Wild - Anaheim Ducks - February 20th, 2021. NHL.com.
21. Web site: Minnesota Wild - San Jose Sharks - February 22nd, 2021. NHL.com.
22. Web site: Minnesota Wild - Colorado Avalanche - February 24th, 2021. NHL.com.
23. Web site: Los Angeles Kings - Minnesota Wild - February 26th, 2021. NHL.com.
24. Web site: Los Angeles Kings - Minnesota Wild - February 27th, 2021. NHL.com.
25. Web site: Minnesota Wild - Vegas Golden Knights - March 1st, 2021. NHL.com.
26. Web site: Minnesota Wild - Vegas Golden Knights - March 3rd, 2021. NHL.com.
27. Web site: Minnesota Wild - Arizona Coyotes - March 5th, 2021. NHL.com.
28. Web site: Minnesota Wild - Arizona Coyotes - March 6th, 2021. NHL.com.
29. Web site: Vegas Golden Knights - Minnesota Wild - March 8th, 2021. NHL.com.
30. Web site: Vegas Golden Knights - Minnesota Wild - March 10th, 2021. NHL.com.
31. Web site: Arizona Coyotes - Minnesota Wild - March 12th, 2021. NHL.com.
32. Web site: Arizona Coyotes - Minnesota Wild - March 14th, 2021. NHL.com.
33. Web site: Arizona Coyotes - Minnesota Wild - March 16th, 2021. NHL.com.
34. Web site: Minnesota Wild - Colorado Avalanche - March 18th, 2021. NHL.com.
35. Web site: Minnesota Wild - Colorado Avalanche - March 20th, 2021. NHL.com.
36. Web site: Anaheim Ducks - Minnesota Wild - March 22nd, 2021. NHL.com.
37. Web site: Anaheim Ducks - Minnesota Wild - March 24th, 2021. NHL.com.
38. Web site: St. Louis Blues - Minnesota Wild - March 25th, 2021. NHL.com.
39. Web site: Minnesota Wild - San Jose Sharks - March 29th, 2021. NHL.com.
40. Web site: Minnesota Wild - San Jose Sharks - March 31st, 2021. NHL.com.
41. Web site: Minnesota Wild - Vegas Golden Knights - April 1st, 2021. NHL.com.
42. Web site: Minnesota Wild - Vegas Golden Knights - April 3rd, 2021. NHL.com.
43. Web site: Colorado Avalanche - Minnesota Wild - April 5th, 2021. NHL.com.
44. Web site: Colorado Avalanche - Minnesota Wild - April 7th, 2021. NHL.com.
45. Web site: Minnesota Wild - St. Louis Blues - April 9th, 2021. NHL.com.
46. Web site: Minnesota Wild - St. Louis Blues - April 10th, 2021. NHL.com.
47. Web site: Blues at Wild game postponed due to respect for community . NHL.com . April 12, 2021 . April 12, 2021.
48. Web site: Arizona Coyotes - Minnesota Wild - April 14th, 2021. NHL.com.
49. Web site: San Jose Sharks - Minnesota Wild - April 16th, 2021. NHL.com.
50. Web site: San Jose Sharks - Minnesota Wild - April 17th, 2021. NHL.com.
51. Web site: Minnesota Wild - Arizona Coyotes - April 19th, 2021. NHL.com.
52. Web site: Minnesota Wild - Arizona Coyotes - April 21st, 2021. NHL.com.
53. Web site: Minnesota Wild - Los Angeles Kings - April 23rd, 2021. NHL.com.
54. Web site: Minnesota Wild - San Jose Sharks - April 24th, 2021. NHL.com.
55. Web site: St. Louis Blues - Minnesota Wild - April 28th, 2021. NHL.com.
56. Web site: St. Louis Blues - Minnesota Wild - April 29th, 2021. NHL.com.
57. Web site: St. Louis Blues - Minnesota Wild - May 1st, 2021. NHL.com.
58. Web site: Vegas Golden Knights - Minnesota Wild - May 3rd, 2021. NHL.com.
59. Web site: Vegas Golden Knights - Minnesota Wild - May 5th, 2021. NHL.com.
60. Web site: Anaheim Ducks - Minnesota Wild - May 7th, 2021. NHL.com.
61. Web site: Anaheim Ducks - Minnesota Wild - May 8th, 2021. NHL.com.
62. Web site: Minnesota Wild - St. Louis Blues - May 12th, 2021. NHL.com.
63. Web site: Minnesota Wild - St. Louis Blues - May 13th, 2021. NHL.com.
64. Web site: Minnesota Wild - Vegas Golden Knights - May 16th, 2021. NHL.com.
65. Web site: Minnesota Wild - Vegas Golden Knights - May 18th, 2021. NHL.com.
66. Web site: Vegas Golden Knights - Minnesota Wild - May 20th, 2021. NHL.com.
67. Web site: Vegas Golden Knights - Minnesota Wild - May 22nd, 2021. NHL.com.
68. Web site: Minnesota Wild - Vegas Golden Knights - May 24th, 2021. NHL.com.
69. Web site: Vegas Golden Knights - Minnesota Wild - May 26th, 2021. NHL.com.
70. Web site: Minnesota Wild - Vegas Golden Knights - May 28th, 2021. NHL.com.