If the Minnesota Wild were looking for the right vibes to set the tone before Game 3 of their opening round series against the Stars, who better to turn to than Justin Jefferson?
That's exactly what the Wild did. In a move that was teased before the game, as Jefferson was revealed to be the mystery guest brought in to conduct the "Let's Play Hockey" chant ahead of puck drop. Needless to say, the beloved Vikings wide receiver brought exactly the energy everyone was hoping for.
Just listen to the pop when he is shown on the jumbotron.
Had to get @JJettas2 out to his first @mnwild game pic.twitter.com/rc5avEsWPl
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) April 23, 2026
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) April 23, 2026
The Wild pulling out all of the stops is no surprise, as they need all the help they can get to end a first-round curse that has clouded the last decade. Not since 2015 has Minnesota won a playoff series, something that harkens back to the miserable curse that the Twins only recently broke out of.
What makes this time feel so different is that the Wild finally have a roster that's close to complete. Trading for Quinn Hughes accelerated the team's timeline, and the willingness to flip future assets in favor of the present is something Minnesota sports fans aren't entirely used to.
Hughes isn't the only masterful piece of the roster. Matt Boldy and Brock Faber are hitting a stride after helping Team USA win gold in Milan back in February, and Jesper Wallstedt is the best young goalie in hockey. Veterans like Vladimir Taresenko and Mats Zuccarello have also made their presence known, and for the first time in a long time, it feels like the Wild have the type of team that can finally get over the hump.
We'll see if they can deliver on the ice, but bringing out Justin Jefferson is certainly a perfect way to try and get the vibes are right as they can be everywhere else.
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