Minnesota Wild vs San Jose Sharks Picks and Predictions April 9th 2025

Wild’s Drive for Playoffs Continues Against Struggling Sharks

With just four games remaining in the regular season, the Minnesota Wild are in the thick of a Western Conference playoff dogfight. And with a vulnerable opponent in the San Jose Sharks skating into town, Wednesday night represents a critical opportunity for the Wild to hold ground — or gain it.

Currently sitting at 42-29-7 (91 points), Minnesota is clinging to the final wild-card spot, narrowly ahead of the Calgary Flames and St. Louis Blues in what’s become one of the tightest finishes in the NHL this season.

“It’s been a grind, but we’re excited we’re in the driver’s seat, still. Our fate’s in our hands,” said forward Marcus Foligno.

Minnesota Looking to Build Off Dallas Win

The Wild are fresh off a 3-2 overtime thriller over the Dallas Stars — a win that snapped a frustrating four-game slide. Now back in Saint Paul for just one game before heading west, they know they must capitalize on weaker opponents like the Sharks to stay in playoff position.

Minnesota’s injury-plagued roster is showing signs of life. Star forward Kirill Kaprizov and two-way center Joel Eriksson Ek both participated in five-on-five contact drills for the first time since their injuries. Kaprizov hasn’t played since Jan. 26, while Eriksson Ek has been sidelined since Feb. 22.

Wild head coach John Hynes was cautious about their status for Wednesday but called their progress encouraging.

“I’ll talk with the trainers after today and see what the next step would be with them,” Hynes said.

Without them, the Wild have relied heavily on Matt Boldy (26 goals, 41 assists) and Marco Rossi (24 goals, 34 assists), who’ve stepped up to keep the Wild afloat.

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Fleury Nearing Farewell, Middleton Sidelined

Minnesota’s blue line took a hit with Jake Middleton ruled out after suffering an injury last Friday against the New York Islanders. But one veteran presence could be back between the pipes this week: Marc-Andre Fleury.

Hynes hasn’t confirmed Wednesday’s starter but indicated that Fleury, in the final season of a Hall-of-Fame-worthy career, will see action this week. The 40-year-old ranks second all-time with 573 career wins and has been a steady presence even in limited action this year.

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Sharks Limp Toward Season’s End

On the other side of the rink, the Sharks (20-47-10, 50 points) are limping toward the offseason amid a six-game winless streak, during which they’ve been outscored 29-10. For San Jose, these final five games are about development, pride, and — for fans — perhaps some optimism via the draft lottery.

Rookie Macklin Celebrini has been one of the few bright spots this year, leading the Sharks with 57 points (21 goals, 36 assists) in 65 games. William Eklund and Tyler Toffoli round out the top scorers.

“I’m just trying to get better every day and learn from watching the guys,” Celebrini said of his first NHL campaign.

Goaltending has been a revolving door in San Jose. Alexandar Georgiev (15-25-2, 3.69 GAA) and Georgi Romanov (0-4-0, 4.02 GAA) could split the remaining starts. The Sharks rank near the bottom of the league in most defensive metrics.

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What’s at Stake

Minnesota cannot afford to drop points against a team already looking toward next season. The Wild’s margin for error is razor-thin, and with tough road games against Calgary and Vancouver ahead, Wednesday’s contest looms large.

They’ll need their top performers to stay sharp and hope for a spark from returning stars. Expect a high-intensity effort from a Wild squad determined to prove they belong in the postseason.

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