Goals 1st2nd3rdF
😈 NJD 1135
🌲 MIN 0112

Devils at Wild

Devils beat Wild 5–2 at Xcel Energy Center on January 12, 2026.

🗓 📍 Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul 🏒 2025-26 🔁 Devils lead the season series 2–0
⚔️ Head-to-head

⭐ Three stars

Best games by the box score
1st star 😈 NJD
Jesper Bratt
2 G
4 shots · 15:42 TOI
2nd star 😈 NJD
Ondrej Palat
2 G
2 shots · 14:36 TOI
3rd star 😈 NJD
Dawson Mercer
1 G, 1 A
1 shots · 16:36 TOI

🚨 Scoring

7 goals · in order
1st period
😈 Dawson Mercer Go-ahead 1st · 10:07
Assists: Nico Hischier · beat Jesper Wallstedt
1–0
2nd period
🌲 Ryan Hartman Tying 2nd · 13:41
1–1
😈 Ondrej Palat Go-ahead 2nd · 19:52
2–1
3rd period
😈 Jesper Bratt 3rd · 07:28
3–1
😈 Jesper Bratt 3rd · 07:49
4–1
😈 Ondrej Palat 3rd · 09:39
Assists: Dawson Mercer · beat Jesper Wallstedt
5–1
🌲 Marcus Foligno PP 3rd · 19:41
5–2

📝 Game recap

AI

Devils Overpower Wild 5-2 in Minnesota

The New Jersey Devils skated to a convincing 5-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Saturday night. The game featured a strong offensive display from the Devils, highlighted by their ability to seize momentum at critical moments.

Big Picture

The Devils emerged as clear winners in this matchup, demonstrating a well-rounded attack and strong offensive contributions from key players. With this win, New Jersey continued to solidify their position in the league standings, while the Wild will need to regroup as they search for consistency in their performance.

Minnesota's offense struggled to find its rhythm, especially in the latter stages of the game as the Devils pulled away with multiple goals. The Wild managed to equalize in the second period but failed to maintain their momentum after that.

Turning Point

The game's pivotal moment came just before the end of the second period. The Wild had tied the game at 1-1 thanks to Ryan Hartman's goal, but the Devils quickly responded. With only eight seconds left in the second period, Ondrej Palat scored for New Jersey, regaining the lead and shifting the momentum back in their favor.

This late goal not only put the Devils up 2-1 heading into the third but also deflated the Wild's confidence. The Devils capitalized on this shift by scoring three more goals in the third period, effectively sealing their victory.

Standout Performances

Nico Hischier was a key contributor for the Devils, registering two assists, including one on Palat's critical late second-period goal. Jesper Bratt had a breakout night, scoring two goals early in the third period that put the game out of reach for the Wild. Meanwhile, Ondrej Palat had a strong performance, netting two goals, showing his knack for being in the right place at the right time.

In the Wild's corner, Ryan Hartman provided a brief hope for Minnesota with his goal in the second period, but overall, the team's offensive effort fell short of what was needed to compete with New Jersey's attack.

What It Means

For the Devils, this victory is another step toward establishing themselves as a formidable team within the league. Their ability to bounce back quickly after the Wild's equalizer showcases their depth and ability to seize opportunities.

On the other hand, the Wild will have to reevaluate their defensive strategies as they continue to face challenges in maintaining momentum during critical moments. This loss could serve as a wake-up call, pushing them to find ways to improve their performance and maintain control in upcoming games.

Overall, this clash serves as a reminder of the Devils' offensive capabilities and the Wild's need for adjustments moving forward in the season.

🧩 Lines & pairings

Estimated from ice time
😈Devils
L1 Hughes · Hischier · Meier 18:13
L2 Mercer · Glass · Brown 16:31
L3 Bratt · Palat · Gritsyuk 15:19
L4 Glendening · Cotter · Dadonov 10:20
D1 Hughes · Siegenthaler 21:12
D2 Pesce · Kovacevic 19:20
D3 Hamilton · Dillon 17:38
🌲Wild
L1 Boldy · Kaprizov · Zuccarello 18:59
L2 Johansson · Foligno · Hartman 16:17
L3 Sturm · Yurov · Tarasenko 13:22
L4 Trenin · Hinostroza · Jones 9:16
D1 Faber · Hughes 26:20
D2 Brodin · Spurgeon 18:14
D3 Middleton · Hunt 14:50

📊 Team stats

Away left · home right
😈NJD MIN🌲
29 Shots on goal 23
0/2 Power play (goals / chances) 1/2
18 Hits 16
19 Blocked shots 14
3 Takeaways 4
12 Giveaways 15
4 Penalty minutes 4
NJD shooting 17.2% (5/29) MIN shooting 8.7% (2/23)

🥅 Goaltending

Saves, shots faced and save percentage
😈Devils
21/23
.913 SV% · 2 GA · 59:47 TOI
🌲Wild
24/29
.828 SV% · 5 GA · 60:00 TOI

🗺 Where the goals came from

7 of 7 goals located
Dawson Mercer · 1st 10:07 · 1–0 Ryan Hartman · 2nd 13:41 · 1–1 Ondrej Palat · 2nd 19:52 · 2–1 Jesper Bratt · 3rd 07:28 · 3–1 Jesper Bratt · 3rd 07:49 · 4–1 Ondrej Palat · 3rd 09:39 · 5–1 Marcus Foligno · 3rd 19:41 · 5–2
NJD MIN
The net is on the right for both teams. Hover a dot for the goal.

🔮 Period by period

AI
After 1st — 1–0
Devils
Devils — leading by 1 goal after 1st: 5-3-1 (56% win rate, 9 games)
Wild
Wild — trailing by 1 goal after 1st: 2-5-1 (25% win rate, 8 games)
After 2nd — 2–1
Devils
Devils — leading by 1 goal after 2nd: 7-0 (100% win rate, 7 games)
Wild
Wild — trailing by 1 goal after 2nd: 2-4-1 (29% win rate, 7 games)
🔮 Ask Puckey

Got a question about Devils vs Wild?

Records, streaks, splits and player numbers, answered in seconds from real game results.

Try one

❓ NJD vs MIN, answered

Who won Devils vs Wild on January 12, 2026?

Devils won 5–2. The final score was Devils 5, Wild 2.

Who scored for Devils?

Jesper Bratt (2), Ondrej Palat (2), Dawson Mercer.

Who scored for Wild?

Marcus Foligno, Ryan Hartman.

How did the Devils goalie play?

Jacob Markstrom made 21 saves on 23 shots (.913 save percentage).

How did the Wild goalie play?

Jesper Wallstedt made 24 saves on 29 shots (.828 save percentage).

Where is Devils vs Wild played?

At Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, the Wild home rink.

What is the Devils vs Wild season series?

Devils lead the season series 2–0 after 2 games.

Have a different question? Ask the Oracle — it answers from real box scores.