The Minnesota Wild face the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre on January 20, 2026, in an NHL regular season matchup where historical dominance meets current-season challenges. Minnesota enters with an 18-1-0 record against Montreal in their last 19 meetings, including a nine-game winning streak dating back to October 2019. However, the Wild are dealing with significant injuries while playing the second half of a back-to-back.
Current Situation
The Wild hold a 28-13-9 record, placing them second in the Central Division. They are coming off a dominant 6-3 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs and have won their last two games. The Canadiens sit at 27-15-7, third in the Atlantic Division, fresh off a 6-5 overtime win against the Ottawa Senators where Juraj Slafkovsky netted two goals.
Team Statistics Comparison
| Statistic | Minnesota Wild | Montreal Canadiens |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 28-13-9 | 27-15-7 |
| Goals Per Game | 3.16 | 3.39 |
| Goals Against Per Game | 2.80 | 3.27 |
| Power Play % | 23.4% | 23.9% |
| Penalty Kill % | 76.6% | 78.1% |
Key Players
| Team | Player | Points | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wild | Kirill Kaprizov | 57 | Team scoring leader |
| Wild | Matt Boldy | 51 | Out - Lower body injury |
| Canadiens | Nick Suzuki | 54 | Team scoring leader |
| Canadiens | Cole Caufield | 48 | Top goal scorer |
| Canadiens | Juraj Slafkovsky | - | 2 goals in last game |
Injury Impact Analysis
Minnesota is missing several key players for this matchup:
| Player | Position | Status | Games Missed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Boldy | LW | Out (Lower body) | 2 |
| Jonas Brodin | D | Out (Lower body) | 3 |
| Joel Eriksson Ek | C | Out (Lower body) | 5 |
| Zach Bogosian | D | Out (Undisclosed) | 7 |
| Marcus Johansson | LW | Day-to-Day | 2 |
The Canadiens have only Kirby Dach on long-term injured reserve with a foot injury.
Historical Dominance
Minnesota's record against Montreal is historically remarkable:
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Last 19 Games vs MTL | 18-1-0 |
| Current Win Streak vs MTL | 9 games |
| Total Goals (in streak) | 33-12 |
| Streak Start Date | October 20, 2019 |
Key Factors
The Wild's historical dominance against Montreal is undeniable, having outscored the Canadiens 33-12 during their nine-game winning streak. However, three significant factors could disrupt this pattern tonight.
First, Minnesota is playing the second game of a back-to-back after their high-scoring affair against Toronto. Fatigue could be a factor, especially with a depleted roster missing key contributors like Matt Boldy, Jonas Brodin, and Joel Eriksson Ek.
Second, the Canadiens rank fifth in the NHL in scoring at 3.39 goals per game, while Minnesota allows only 2.80 goals against. Montreal's offensive firepower, led by Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield, presents a legitimate threat even against Minnesota's strong defensive structure.
Third, the Wild will likely start Jesper Wallstedt in net (2.80 career GAA, 14-7-4 record), potentially managing their goaltending ahead of the playoffs given the back-to-back scenario.
Goaltending Outlook
| Goaltender | Team | GAA | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jesper Wallstedt | Wild | 2.80 | 14-7-4 |
| Expected Starter | Canadiens | TBD | TBD |
Prediction
Direction: Bullish (Wild) Probability: 65% Horizon: 1 day (January 21, 2026) Answer: Yes
Despite the injury concerns and back-to-back fatigue, Minnesota's historical dominance over Montreal (18-1-0 in last 19 meetings) combined with their superior defensive metrics (2.80 GA/G vs 3.27 GA/G) suggests they maintain their streak. The Wild have consistently found ways to beat the Canadiens regardless of circumstances, and Kirill Kaprizov remains healthy to lead the offense. The Polymarket odds showing 33% for Montreal imply a 67% probability for Minnesota, aligning with this bullish assessment.