Oilers host Wild as McDavid and Kaprizov meet in Edmonton
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
The Oilers (6-1-1) host the Wild (6-2-1) at Rogers Place, opening a five-game homestand for Edmonton and a five-game road trip for Minnesota.
NHL points leader Connor McDavid faces NHL goals leader Kirill Kaprizov, and Minnesota has won 14 of the last 18 meetings.
Background
The Edmonton Oilers and Minnesota Wild are NHL clubs meeting at Rogers Place in Edmonton. Connor McDavid, the Oilers' captain and center, leads the league with 23 points (6 goals, 17 assists) through eight games, while Wild left wing Kirill Kaprizov leads the NHL with 10 goals and has 15 points in nine games. The game is trending because it opens a five-game homestand for Edmonton and a five-game Western road trip for Minnesota, and because Minnesota has dominated the matchup: the Wild won all three meetings last season, including 7-3 and 1-0 wins in Edmonton, and the Oilers are 39-56-14 all-time against Minnesota. Minnesota is without goaltender Filip Gustavsson, on long-term injured reserve (LTIR, meaning he is out and his salary does not count against the cap) after offseason hip surgery, so former Oiler Calvin Pickard backs him up and returns to Edmonton for the first time since signing with the Wild this summer.
How it unfolded
- Oct 8, 2026The Oilers beat Anaheim 5-2 on the road.
- Oct 10, 2026The Oilers beat San Jose 3-1 on the road, and the Wild beat Florida 4-1 on the road.
- Oct 13, 2026The Wild beat Vegas 4-2 at home.
- Oct 14, 2026The Oilers beat Los Angeles 4-1 on the road, and the Wild lost 5-2 at Winnipeg.
- Oct 15, 2026Matt Boldy scored a hat trick in the Wild's 5-4 win over the Blues.
- Oct 16, 2026The Oilers lost 4-2 at home to Utah, and the Wild beat St. Louis 5-4 at home.
- Oct 18, 2026The Oilers beat Utah 6-2 on the road, and the Wild beat Columbus 2-1 at home.
- Oct 19, 2026The Oilers practiced at Rogers Place, and McDavid spoke to the media.
- Oct 20, 2026The Oilers (6-1-1) host the Wild (6-2-1) at Rogers Place, with puck drop at 7:00 PM MT / 9 p.m. ET on Sportsnet and ESPN+. Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes enters with 497 career points, three short of 500.
Who’s saying what
- Caution
- Oilers captain Connor McDavid said Minnesota's top line with Joel Eriksson Ek is "as good as it gets around the league" and that Edmonton has to take care of them.
- Support
- Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov said McDavid is "flying on the ice" and praised Edmonton's depth, naming Leon Draisaitl and Vasily Podkolzin as well.
- Expert
- Blue Jackets coach Rick Bowness called Kaprizov and Boldy "elite" and said, much like McDavid and Draisaitl, "they'll put you on your heels."
- Party
- Wild forward Blake Coleman said Kaprizov and Boldy are "starting" to get full appreciation and that their compete level is as much as, if not more than, anyone else on the ice.
Still unverified
Devon Levi is listed as the Oilers' projected starting goalie, per Yahoo Sports; the Oilers have not confirmed a starter.