Brad Marchand Shines As Panthers Edge Wild In Overtime Thriller

Hockey Day Minnesota always brings an extra spark to St. Paul, but this year’s finale at Grand Casino Arena had even more on the line as the Minnesota Wild hosted the Florida Panthers in a clash brimming with storylines, high-stakes drama, and a dash of history. On January 24, 2026, the Wild entered the night with a 29-14-9 record, sitting third in the Western Conference, while the Panthers, the reigning back-to-back Stanley Cup champions, arrived at 26-20-3 and 13th in the Eastern Conference, hungry to climb into a playoff spot.

For Minnesota, this wasn’t just any game. It marked the 20th edition of Hockey Day Minnesota, a beloved tradition where the Wild had boasted a sparkling 14-4-1 record all-time, outscoring opponents 64-43 since the inaugural event in 2007. The atmosphere inside Grand Casino Arena was electric, with festivities echoing from the United Heroes League complex in Hastings, and fans celebrating the franchise’s 25th anniversary by honoring former stars Marc-Andre Fleury, Alex Goligoski, and Eric Staal. To top it off, those lucky enough to snag a special ticket received a Kirill Kaprizov bobblehead—a fitting tribute, considering Kaprizov had scored at least a point in every game he’d played against Florida before this showdown.

The Wild’s recent form had been a mixed bag, running 4-4-2 in their last ten games, but optimism was in the air. The team was inching back toward full strength, with Matt Boldy activated off injured reserve after missing four games with a lower-body issue. Boldy had been one of the league’s most productive forwards before his injury, tied for third in NHL goals (27) and ranking among the top 20 in points (51). Joel Eriksson Ek and Marcus Johansson had also returned from their own injuries in the previous outing, a thrilling 4-3 overtime win against Detroit. Still, Minnesota was without key defensemen Jonas Brodin and Zach Bogosian, both sidelined with lower-body injuries.

Between the pipes, Filip Gustavsson got the nod for Minnesota. Gustavsson had just earned his 100th NHL win and boasted a strong track record against the Panthers: a 3-2-1 record, a 2.34 goals-against average, and a .928 save percentage, including one shutout. Over his last 13 starts, Gustavsson had been formidable, going 10-1-2 with a 2.38 GAA and .911 SV%. For Florida, Sergei Bobrovsky started in goal despite a rocky stretch—he’d allowed 13 goals in his last two games, including a lopsided 9-1 loss to Carolina, and carried a .875 save percentage on the season.

But the night’s biggest storyline was the return of Brad Marchand to the Panthers’ lineup after missing seven games with an undisclosed injury. Marchand wasted no time making his presence felt, scoring twice—including the overtime game-winner—to lift the Panthers to a dramatic 4-3 victory. “Just excited to be back out here with the guys,” Marchand told Scripps Sports’ Katie Engleson during an intermission interview. “It’s hard when you have to sit out and can’t be part of it, but it felt great to get out there again.”

Marchand’s impact was immediate. He opened his account with a slick backhanded power-play goal in the first period, putting Florida up 2-1 with just 1:40 left before intermission. He wasn’t done yet. In the third period, with the Wild clinging to a 3-2 lead, Marchand picked up a secondary assist on Sam Bennett’s power-play goal that tied the game at 3-3, forcing overtime. Then, just three minutes into the extra frame, Marchand capped his return in style, finishing off a two-on-one rush with Carter Verhaeghe to notch his 25th goal of the season and secure the win for Florida.

“I told them I’m not coming back if I don’t get to play with those guys,” Marchand joked about reuniting with linemates Eetu Luostarinen and Anton Lundell, the trio that had fueled Florida’s run to its second consecutive Stanley Cup last season. “I missed them. ... We just have that instant chemistry from the get-go. We just feel so comfortable out there with one another.”

This performance marked Marchand’s fourth multi-goal game and third outing with at least three points this season. He and Sam Reinhart were now tied for the team lead in goals (25), assists (24), and points. Reinhart chipped in a goal and an assist, while Matthew Tkachuk, making just his third appearance since returning from offseason surgery, added two assists to the Panthers’ cause. Florida’s win improved their record to 27-20-3, keeping them within striking distance of a playoff berth—just five points back as the Olympic trade deadline loomed.

The Wild, meanwhile, fell to 29-14-10 but had plenty of positives to draw from. Kaprizov continued his torrid pace, fresh off a two-goal night against Detroit that snapped a five-game drought. Since the arrival of Quinn Hughes on December 14, Minnesota’s offense had been on fire, with the team going 16-4 to the over in 20 games and Hughes racking up 22 assists in that span. Joel Eriksson Ek’s return added muscle at the faceoff dot, ranking eighth in the NHL in wins, and Marcus Johansson’s presence bolstered the second power-play unit. Matt Boldy’s return, though not enough to tilt the scales on this night, gave the Wild a much-needed scoring threat as the playoff race heats up.

Injuries continued to test both squads. The Panthers remained without captain Aleksander Barkov, Tomas Nosek, Jonah Gadjovich, Seth Jones, and Dmitry Kulikov. For the Wild, the absence of Brodin and Bogosian left the blue line thin, but the team’s depth and resilience kept them in the fight until the final whistle.

Despite the setback, Minnesota’s record on Hockey Day Minnesota remains impressive, and the energy from the packed house in St. Paul was palpable throughout the night. As the Panthers head to Chicago for the next leg of their road trip and the Wild regroup for their upcoming stretch, both teams will look to build on the lessons and momentum from this memorable clash.

What a night for Hockey Day Minnesota—one filled with comebacks, milestones, and the kind of edge-of-your-seat action that reminds fans why they love this sport. With the playoff push intensifying, neither the Wild nor the Panthers can afford to look back for long. The next chapter is already waiting.