Hughes Sets Franchise Record in Wild’s Dominant Win Over Oilers

Quinn Hughes made franchise history for the Minnesota Wild during a commanding 7-3 victory against the Edmonton Oilers. His performance included a goal and an assist, extending his point streak to eight games. Hughes’s achievements included establishing the record for the longest points streak by a defenceman in the franchise’s history.

Game Highlights

Hughes was acquired from the Vancouver Canucks on December 12. In the game against Edmonton, he contributed to a total of seven points, alongside teammates Joel Eriksson Ek, Mats Zuccarello, and Brock Faber, who each recorded a goal and an assist. Additionally, Kirill Kaprizov, Vladimir Tarasenko, and Tyler Pitlick added to the scoring.

Goalkeeping Performance

Jesper Wallstedt showcased his skills, stopping 39 of the 42 shots he faced. In contrast, Edmonton’s goaltender, Tristan Jarry, struggled, allowing five goals on just 20 shots before being replaced midway through the second period. His backup, Connor Ingram, managed to make seven saves in relief.

Team Standings

The Minnesota Wild is now 32-14-10, securing points in five consecutive games, with a record of 4-0-1 during this stretch. The team currently ranks second in the Western Conference standings, only behind the Colorado Avalanche.

Oilers Challenges

• The Oilers, now 28-20-8, saw their three-game winning streak come to an end.
• Penalty killing has been an issue for Edmonton, as they’ve allowed six goals on 14 penalties in their last four games.
• Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Jack Roslovic scored for the Oilers, while Draisaitl briefly left the ice in the second period but returned to finish the game.
• Defenceman Evan Bouchard continues his strong performance, extending his point streak to four games.

Key Moments

The turning point of the game occurred just 35 seconds into the second period. Ryan Hartman won a faceoff, passed to Zuccarello, who scored to give Minnesota a 3-2 lead, setting the tone for the rest of the match.

Next Games

• Wild: Will host the Montreal Canadiens on Monday.
• Oilers: Set to face the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday.

This article represents a summary of the key events from the match and emphasizes Hughes’s record-making performance in the Wild’s decisive win over the Oilers.