The Edmonton Oilers and Minnesota Wild enter Saturday’s NHL slate in third place in their respective divisions. But only one of them can win when they face off in Saint Paul. This game is a rematch from earlier in the regular season, when these teams combined for just one goal. Will we see more offense this time around? Continue reading for my Oilers vs Wild prediction and find out what I think.
Our Oilers vs Wild Pick
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Edmonton Oilers vs Minnesota Wild
- Date & Time: Saturday, December 20, 2025, 8:00 PM
- Venue: Grand Casino Arena, Saint Paul, Minnesota
- Broadcast: ESPN+
Key Storylines
Recent form
The Wild have surged into this contest on a winning streak, taking six straight victories and showcasing their ability to convert chances and protect leads late in games. Minnesota’s latest 5-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets was the result of balanced contributions up and down the lineup, with Joel Eriksson Ek, Kirill Kaprizov, and Matt Boldy all making noise offensively while Jesper Wallstedt had 27 saves in net.
The Oilers got a 3-1 victory against Boston most recently, giving them a second straight win and a fourth win in five games. But it’s not all good news for the Oilers. Their midseason trade acquisition, Tristan Jarry, has just been placed on injured reserve with a lower-body issue. That has forced Calvin Pickard and newly-recalled Connor Ingram into tandem duties.
Goaltending
Minnesota’s Wallstedt is rolling, with 4 shutouts and an elite save percentage that gives his team a significant edge. Edmonton’s uncertainty in net looms large with Jarry out. While Calvin Pickard has performed admirably in relief, the jump to consistent NHL starts could be a lot for him to handle even with his pro experience.
Key skaters
For Minnesota, Kaprizov and Boldy continue to lead the offense, combining for high point production. Kaprizov has been especially dangerous with 22 goals and 19 assists. Edmonton is led by the duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. McDavid has been a dominant force, with a massive multi-point game streak. However, Edmonton’s secondary scoring has not always been a given behind those two stars.
Best Player Props
| Player | Prop |
|---|---|
| Kirill Kaprizov | |
| Matthew Boldy |
Betting Trends
- The Wild defeated the Oilers 1-0 in their first meeting of the season.
- The Wild have stayed under the total in 54.3% of their games this season.
- The Oilers have gone over the total in 55.1% of their games thus far.
Oilers vs Wild Model Projection
Final Thoughts
