Minnesota Wild finish at the top of the NHL, their success varies despite similar challenges

The fight for first place in the NHL is on.

After failing to get close to No. 1 Winnipeg on Monday, the Wild finally caught up to the Jets with 36 and tied for the league’s most points after rallying with a 3-2 win on Saturday against Nashville in overtime, securing their first clear win against the Central Division on the night for their third straight win. When Winnipeg lost 3-1 to Dallas on Sunday, the Wild became No. 1 based solely on the fact that they had played fewer games than the Jets.

“If you told me we would be in this position at the end of last season, I don’t know if I would believe you,” said alternate captain Marcus Foligno, “but here we are. So a lot of work went into this season.”

The last time the Wild had the most points in the NHL was actually not that long ago.

They were in first place as of December 9, 2021 with 39 points with a 19-6-1 record in 26 games. This was the Wild’s most successful regular season in franchise history. The team finished with the most wins (53) and points (113) before falling to St. Louis in the first round of the playoffs.

Not only are the Wild on track to break those records, but the way they’re doing it suggests that this squad may have better staying power – a potential that overcomes the problems of last season seems more like a deviation.

“It’s a lot easier this time,” Foligno said. “At the 20-game mark last season it felt like it was 80 games into the season and it was miserable. So when you’re having fun and you’re in difficult situations in the game, that confidence is just there. You don’t panic, and that’s what happens when you’re a successful hockey team.”

By distancing themselves from last season’s debacle, the Wild continue to do the opposite of what caused them to collapse early: fire the coach and fail to make the playoffs.