If you were watching the NY Islanders vs Minnesota Wild game last Saturday night at Grand Casino Arena, you probably saw a bit of everything. We’re talking penalty shots, short-handed heartbreakers, and a Swedish winger basically deciding he’d had enough and ending it himself. It was messy. It was gritty. Honestly, it was exactly what we've come to expect when these two teams get together.
Most people look at this matchup and see two mid-market teams from different conferences that shouldn’t have much beef. But they do. Maybe it's the shared DNA—the connections between front offices, or the fact that Anders Lee is basically a Minnesota hockey god playing for Long Island—but it always feels like there’s more than just two points on the line.
The Islanders walked away with a 4-3 overtime win on January 10, 2026, but the score sheet only tells about half the story.
The Night Simon Holmstrom Became the Villain (or Hero)
Simon Holmstrom is one of those players who can be invisible for three games and then suddenly look like the best player on the ice. In this latest installment of NY Islanders vs Minnesota Wild, he was the latter. He didn't just score the overtime winner; he assisted on the short-handed goal that forced the extra period in the first place.
Imagine being Matt Boldy in that overtime frame. You're one of the most talented young players in the league, and you get absolutely turned inside out by a guy who isn't even the first name on the Isles' scouting report. Holmstrom just drove the net, went to the backhand, and slid it through Filip Gustavsson.
Game over.
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But let’s talk about that short-handed goal by Casey Cizikas. If you’re a Wild fan, that’s the one that’s going to keep you up at night. With less than a minute left in the second period, the Wild were on the power play. They should have been putting the nail in the coffin. Instead, Cizikas and Holmstrom went 2-on-1, and Cizikas buried a backhand that sucked the life out of the building.
Why the Minnesota Wild Can't Quite Figure Out Patrick Roy
Patrick Roy has the Islanders playing a weird brand of "resilient" hockey. They get outshot constantly. They give up way too many high-danger chances. Ilya Sorokin basically has to perform an exorcism every third period just to keep them in games. And yet, they keep winning.
Roy was pretty blunt after the game:
"Expected goals against are probably not going to be good for us, but I liked the way we played in the circumstance we did."
That’s basically Roy-speak for "We got lucky, but my goalie is better than yours."
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Sorokin was a brick wall. He made 33 saves, including 17 in the third period alone. He stopped Kirill Kaprizov on the doorstep. He denied a Quinn Hughes wraparound that looked like a sure thing. When the NY Islanders vs Minnesota Wild rivalry gets this tight, having a guy like Sorokin is basically a cheat code.
The Quinn Hughes Factor in Minnesota
It still feels a little surreal seeing Quinn Hughes in a Wild sweater, doesn't it? He had three assists in this game. Three. He’s the engine that makes that team go, and he was arguably the best player on the ice for 60 minutes.
The Wild's power play looks completely different with him at the point. He fed Matt Boldy for a one-timer on a 5-on-3 that was just pure hockey porn. But as good as Hughes was, the Wild couldn't close the deal. They’ve now lost three of their last four. They’re sitting third in the Central Division, which is fine, but they’re starting to show some cracks in the armor when it comes to holding leads.
And then there’s Kirill Kaprizov. He passed Marian Gaborik for the second-most points in franchise history during this game. He’s a superstar. But even superstars get frustrated when they run into a hot goalie and a team that refuses to go away.
Breaking Down the Rosters and Injuries
The Islanders are currently held together by duct tape and Ilya Sorokin's pads.
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- Kyle Palmieri: Out (Knee)
- Bo Horvat: Out until late January (Lower Body)
- Alexander Romanov: Out for the season (Shoulder)
- Semyon Varlamov: Out until late February (Knee)
When you look at that list, you realize how insane it is that they beat a healthy Wild team. They’re starting guys like Calum Ritchie and Maxim Shabanov. They’re relying on Tony DeAngelo to play big minutes on the power play—which, to his credit, he did, picking up two assists.
The Wild are in much better shape, health-wise. Zach Bogosian is the only real name on the IR. They have the depth. They have the star power. What they didn't have on Saturday was the ability to stop a 2-on-1 while they were on the power play.
What This Means for the Standings
Right now, the Islanders are 25-15-5. They’re sitting in second place in the Metropolitan Division, trailing only the Hurricanes. It’s a bit of a mirage if you look at their underlying stats, but points are points. They have a four-game point streak going, and they’re finding ways to win games they have no business being in.
The Wild (26-11-9) are still in a great spot in the Central. They’re battling the Avalanche and Stars for that top spot. But losing to a depleted Islanders team at home isn't exactly a confidence booster.
Key Stats from the Recent Matchup
- Shots on Goal: Wild 36, Islanders 27
- Face-offs: Wild 58.1%, Islanders 41.9%
- Power Plays: Wild 1/4, Islanders 0/3
- Giveaways: Wild 16, Islanders 7 (This was the real killer for Minnesota)
Actionable Insights for the Next Matchup
If you're betting on the next NY Islanders vs Minnesota Wild game, or just trying to sound smart at the bar, keep these things in mind:
- Watch the Turnover Margin: The Wild are far more talented, but they play loose. If the Islanders can keep their giveaways in the single digits, they will always have a chance to steal a win.
- The Sorokin Variable: If Ilya Sorokin is starting, the "Under" is usually a safe bet. He thrives under heavy volume, especially against high-octane offenses like Minnesota's.
- Holmstrom on the Penalty Kill: He is becoming a legitimate threat to score short-handed. Teams are starting to cheat toward him on the power play, which opens up lanes for Cizikas.
- The Anders Lee Connection: Never discount the "hometown hero" factor. Lee always plays a little harder in St. Paul. He didn't score this time, but he was a presence in front of the net all night.
Check the starting goalie announcements about two hours before puck drop. If David Rittich is in for the Isles instead of Sorokin, the Wild's chances of a blowout go up significantly. Also, keep an eye on the Wild's defensive pairings; they've been experimenting with Quinn Hughes and Brock Faber on the same unit during late-game situations, which is a nightmare for any opposing forecheck.
Next time these two meet, don't expect a tactical masterclass. Expect a slog. Expect some weird bounces. And most importantly, expect the Islanders to hang around long after they should have been put away.