Hunter Haight’s journey to his first NHL goal has been a winding one, laden with anticipation, heartbreak, and, finally, jubilation. On April 14, 2026, the Minnesota Wild’s promising 22-year-old prospect found the back of the net for the first time in the league, helping lift his team to a 3-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks in the regular-season finale at Xcel Energy Center. For Haight, who had a goal overturned just the night before, the moment was all the sweeter.
“It’s frustrating when something like that happens, but I kind of knew right away that it was going to get called back,” Haight said, referencing his disallowed goal on April 13 against the St. Louis Blues. “So it feels really good to score tonight.” The relief was palpable, not just for Haight, but for the entire Wild bench, who erupted in cheers as he celebrated with teammates Nick Foligno and Marcus Johansson, both of whom assisted on the milestone tally.
Coach John Hynes, who has watched Haight’s progress closely, was effusive in his praise. “Really happy for Hunter. What was most cool is that Nick Foligno and Marcus Johansson assisted on the goal,” Hynes said. “He’s gotten better. Second-year pro, he’s had his stints up here. He’s really produced and played well down in Iowa and you see him come up here and he’s more comfortable. He’s now showing some things that I think are on a high trajectory, which is a real positive.”
Haight’s goal was a highlight in a game where the Wild, already secure in their playoff standing, opted to rest nine regulars, including stars like Joel Eriksson Ek, Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy, Quinn Hughes, Mats Zuccarello, Brock Faber, Ryan Hartman, Marcus Foligno, and Jared Spurgeon. Despite the absence of so many core players, the Wild showcased their depth and resilience.
Danila Yurov, another young talent, continued his strong finish to the season by scoring for the second straight game. Robby Fabbri, in his first season with Minnesota, netted his inaugural goal for the Wild, which ultimately stood as the game-winner. “I really like his game,” Foligno said of Yurov. “He’s got an attitude and a hardness to his game, and you can see he’s getting more confident as he’s played more, and he’s a big part of this.”
Between the pipes, rookie goaltender Jesper Wallstedt delivered yet another standout performance, turning aside 35 shots to secure the win. Wallstedt’s season numbers speak volumes: an 18-9-6 record, a 2.61 goals-against average, and a .915 save percentage. His four shutouts set a new single-season mark for a rookie in Wild history, and his save percentage is tied for the franchise’s best among first-year netminders. In his last 10 games, Wallstedt went 4-3-2 with a sparkling 1.98 goals-against average and a .930 save percentage. “I knew it was going to be a challenge,” Wallstedt said after the game. “It was back-to-back, we’re resting guys. They’re obviously pushing to not play Colorado in the first round, and they’re trying to get spots in their division. So I just saw it as a great challenge. I knew I was going to be busy tonight, and, yeah, I like it that way. That’s why I’m a goalie. I like to try to be the difference-maker, and I felt like I contributed with that today, and just try to give our team as good of a shot as possible.”
Wallstedt’s late-season surge contrasted sharply with Filip Gustavsson’s recent struggles. Gustavsson allowed four or more goals in five of his last six starts, posting a 2-4 record with a 4.25 goals-against average and a .836 save percentage. Despite the statistical gap, it remains to be seen who will get the nod in net for Game 1 of the playoffs. “He was solid tonight,” Hynes said of Wallstedt. “I thought he made some huge saves for us. Made the routine saves, competed hard, so it was another good performance, for sure.”
With the regular season now in the books, the Wild are shifting focus to the postseason. The team will take April 15 off, then practice in St. Paul on April 16 before flying to Dallas for a final tune-up on April 17. All signs point to a first-round playoff showdown with the Dallas Stars, set to begin Saturday, April 18. The Wild, who finished the season 21-1 in their past 22 games against Anaheim, are brimming with confidence and eager for the challenge ahead.
“I’m anticipating Saturday already or whenever it’s going to be,” said Foligno. “Listen, it’s a great time to recharge the batteries and know that the level goes up, right? The mindset, as much as it’s the most fun time of the year, Hynesy said it in here, it’s another level we have to get to. So it’s the understanding of that. Enjoying what we’ve built and what we’ve worked toward, and now putting it to good use and a great opportunity this postseason.”
Coach Hynes isn’t worried about rust after resting so many regulars. “Here’s how I see it, we’ve played a lot of hockey,” he said. “And we’ve played a lot of good hockey. I think the stretch after the four-day break when we went Vancouver, Ottawa, Detroit, Seattle, Dallas, we have our game in order. And I think guys individually played well. I think the team played well. We know what it looks like, we know what our game is. And I think now it’s looking at some other guys and some different situations, but also having guys make sure that if they’re banged up — we’ve had a lot of Olympians — those guys get a little bit of time off. We certainly think that that is beneficial I think moving forward.”
As for Haight, the young forward is already setting his sights on the future. “My goal going into every training camp is to try to make the lineup,” he said. “I think I’ve done a great job, development-wise, and heading into next season, and I feel really good heading into next year.” His teammates, especially Foligno, have been quick to support him. “I mean, I’ve always said it, this locker room is full of amazing people,” Haight added. “And Fliggy, he’s been there. Ever since he got here, he’s been there for me and kind of taken me under his wing.”
With a blend of youthful energy and veteran leadership, the Wild look poised for the playoff battles that lie ahead. The regular season finale was more than just a win; it was a showcase of the team’s depth, resilience, and the promise of what’s to come as Minnesota sets its sights on a deep postseason run.