Needing a win to clinch a playoff spot for the first time since 2008, the Wild laid an egg Friday night and the Edmonton Oilers spoiled the party with a 6-1 victory.

This was a choke of epic proportions for the Wild, who can still claim the eighth-and-final playoff spot in the Western Conference with a win in Colorado over the Avalanche Saturday. "I don't know what to say," said Wild center Matt Cullen. "It was one of the weirdest games I've ever played in. It was strange. But bottom line is that we got spanked in a game that we absolutely needed to win. It's one of those things that leaves you shaking your head."

Matt Cullen returned to action on Monday April 15.

Matt Cullen (lower body) practiced again on Sunday during an optional skate and could be back in the Minnesota lineup Monday.

Cullen has been out the last six games with the lower body injury. "We're getting to the point in the season where you have to be in there," Cullen said. "So it was a good day to push it a little bit. We'll see how it feels in the morning, how everything is going. But yeah, it was definitely a good day, and it's definitely getting better." He has seven goals and 25 points in 35 games and has been a vital member of the second line and should get Devin Setoguchi going as Setoguchi has only one assist since the absence of Cullen after being one of the hottest players in the NHL in the previous month. Cullen will be a game-time decision.