Everything changes when the puck drops. You think you know the rhythm of the season, and then a Saturday afternoon tilt in Buffalo throws your entire weekend for a loop. Honestly, keeping track of the mn wild game time in 2026 feels like a full-time job lately. Between the weird afternoon starts and the national TV flexes, being a Wild fan requires some serious calendar management.
Take right now. The Wild are currently sitting 3rd in the Central Division with a 26-13-9 record. They’ve got 61 points, but the vibe in the State of Hockey is a bit... tense. We just came off a rough 6-2 loss to Winnipeg at the Grand Casino Arena. It wasn't pretty. If you’re looking for the next puck drop to see if John Hynes can get the boys back on track, here is the immediate outlook.
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The Next MN Wild Game Time and Immediate Schedule
The most pressing thing on your mind is probably the very next game.
Saturday, January 17, 2026: The Minnesota Wild are in Buffalo to face the Sabres at the KeyBank Center. This is a matinee. The mn wild game time for this one is 12:30 PM CT. If you’re a late sleeper on Saturdays, you’re going to miss the first period. It’s being broadcast on the NHL Network, so make sure your subscription is active or you’ve got your Fubo login ready.
The road trip continues through Canada right after that. It's a classic "Northern Tour" that tests the depth of the roster.
- Monday, Jan 19: at Toronto Maple Leafs. Game time is 7:30 PM CT.
- Tuesday, Jan 20: at Montreal Canadiens. Game time is 7:00 PM CT.
Notice that back-to-back? That’s brutal. Traveling from Toronto to Montreal and playing less than 24 hours later is where teams usually show their cracks. Following that, the Wild finally return home to Saint Paul. They’ll face the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday, Jan 22, with a later-than-usual mn wild game time of 8:30 PM CT because it's a national ESPN broadcast.
Why the Start Times Keep Shifting
Why can't games just start at 7:00 PM every night? It would make life a lot easier for those of us trying to grab a beer at Tom Reid's before the game.
Basically, it comes down to the TV deals. This 2025-2026 season has 16 games on national television. When ESPN or TNT picks up a game, they dictate the clock. For instance, that Detroit game on the 22nd is pushed back to 8:30 PM to accommodate the East Coast doubleheader window. On the flip side, we have 12 games this season starting before 5:00 PM. That’s an increase from last year, aimed at capturing more of the European market (and probably just to make us drink coffee during the first intermission).
The move to the Grand Casino Arena (the rebranded name many fans are still getting used to) hasn't changed the local broadcast much. Most nights, you’re still looking for FanDuel Sports Network North. If you’re like me and cut the cord years ago, you know the struggle of finding a stable stream. Fubo and DirecTV Stream are currently the primary ways to get FDSN without a traditional cable box.
The Kaprizov Factor and the Central Division Race
You've probably noticed that Kirill Kaprizov is carrying a massive load this year. He’s already sitting at 52 points (25 goals, 27 assists) in 48 games. When he’s on the ice, the mn wild game time feels like must-watch TV. When he’s off? Well, it gets a bit dicey.
The addition of Quinn Hughes has been a massive storyline. Seeing him quarterback the power play alongside Brock Faber is something most Wild fans didn't think was possible a few years ago. Hughes has 36 assists already. Despite the star power, the team is struggling with the penalty kill, which is currently ranked 26th in the league at a dismal 76.72%. You can't win in May with a PK that porous.
Upcoming Key Matchups in early 2026
If you are planning your life around the Wild, keep an eye on these specific dates. The schedule gets heavy in late January and February.
- Jan 24 vs. Florida Panthers (8:00 PM CT): The defending champs come to town. This is an 8:00 PM start, likely because it’s a high-profile matchup for the weekend crowds.
- Feb 2 vs. Montreal (6:30 PM CT): An oddly early Monday night start. Don't get stuck in I-35E traffic and miss the opening faceoff.
- Feb 27 at Utah Mammoth (7:00 PM CT): The new rivalry. Playing in Salt Lake City is always weird, but the Wild have found a way to struggle there.
How to Actually Watch Without Losing Your Mind
Honestly, the broadcast landscape is a mess. Here is the breakdown so you don't miss the mn wild game time because you were scrolling through the wrong app.
Most games (about 65-70 of them) are on FanDuel Sports Network North. If you live in Minnesota, Wisconsin, or the Dakotas, this is your home base. If you are out of market, you need ESPN+ and their "NHL Power Play" package.
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But wait, there's a catch. This season, five games are exclusive to ESPN+/Hulu. That means even if you have cable, you can't watch them on TV; you have to stream them through the app. Then you have the TNT games, which also stream on Max (formerly HBO Max). If you feel like you need four different subscriptions to watch one hockey team, you're right. It sucks.
Actionable Next Steps for Wild Fans
Don't let the schedule catch you off guard. The Western Conference is a bloodbath this year, and every point counts.
- Sync your digital calendar: Go to the official Wild website and download the "Add to Calendar" file. It automatically updates for time changes, which happens more often than you'd think due to TV flex scheduling.
- Check the "National" list: Mark the Jan 22 (ESPN), March 3 (TNT), and March 15 (TNT) games now. These will NOT be on your local FanDuel Sports Network.
- Audit your streaming: If you're using Fubo, double-check that your "Home Zip Code" is set correctly, or you'll get blacked out when the team is on the road.
- Watch the Afternoon Window: Keep an eye on those 12:30 PM and 1:00 PM starts in late February and March. They are "trap" games for the players and "missed" games for fans who aren't paying attention.