Minnesota Wild One Win Away From Playoff Lock, and April 1 Could Clinch It All

It's crunch time in the Western Conference, and the Minnesota Wild are sitting on the edge of clinching a playoff berth. The good news for them: they don't even have to play today. All they need is help from two other teams, and their ticket to the postseason is punched.

What the Wild Need to Get In

Here's the scenario. Minnesota is idle on April 1, which means they're letting everyone else do the heavy lifting. The Wild will clinch a playoff spot if either of two things happen: the St. Louis Blues beat the Los Angeles Kings at any point (that game tips at 9 p.m. ET), or the Anaheim Ducks defeat the San Jose Sharks in regulation play (also 9 p.m. ET start, broadcast on HBO MAX, truTV, and TNT).

Think about that for a second. The Wild literally get to sit back and watch the rest of the league decide their fate. That's the kind of position you want to be in when April rolls around. One of those two games has to break their way, and Minnesota moves on.

The Western Conference is Tighter Than Ever

p>The Wild clinching scenarios tell you everything you need to know about how competitive things are out west right now. Teams are separated by points, not wins. Every game matters. One regulation loss can flip the whole board, and one Ducks victory over San Jose could be the domino that sends Minnesota through.

For Seattle fans keeping tabs on the Kraken, the reality hit hard on March 31. Edmonton shut out the boys 3-0, a rough result that shows just how tight this race is. Every single night counts when you're fighting for playoff position in April.

Keep an eye on St. Louis and Anaheim tonight. One of those two results will likely decide Minnesota's fate, and in the Western Conference right now, clinching early is everything.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.