Dallas Stars vs. Minnesota Wild: NHL Playoff Series Preview

The Minnesota Wild and Dallas Stars are set to meet in the Western Conference First Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, renewing a rivalry that has defined the Central Division for months. The series begins Saturday, April 18, with Game 1 in Dallas at 5:30 p.m. ET, as both teams enter the postseason after a season-long battle for positioning behind the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche.

The Stars secured home-ice advantage with a 5-4 comeback victory over the Wild on April 9, finishing second in the Central Division with 112 points (50-20-12), while the Wild followed closely behind in third with 104 points (46-24-12). Dallas moved into second place on February 28 and never relinquished it, holding off Minnesota down the stretch.

Both teams enter the playoffs as the only two in the NHL this season with multiple 40-goal scorers. Kirill Kaprizov led the Wild with 45 goals, supported by Matt Boldy’s 42. On the Stars’ side, Wyatt Johnston and Jason Robertson each reached the 45-goal mark, giving Dallas a potent offensive duo to match Minnesota’s firepower.

The Wild and Stars have developed a intense familiarity over the course of the season, having occupied second and third place in the Central Division every day since November 21 — a span of 147 days. Their four regular-season meetings were closely contested, with each team winning one game by a couple of goals and the others decided by one goal, including empty-netters in the two-goal victories.

“The four games we played, we each had one where we won by a couple and the others were one-goal games, but even those we won by a couple were 3-2 and a couple empty-netters,” said Wild captain Jared Spurgeon. “I think we match up well. Each game we’ve played against them it’s been a tight, playoff-type atmosphere. For us, just looking forward to the challenge. You want to give yourself a chance to win the Stanley Cup. You have to get in to give yourself a chance. We’re excited.”

The Stars, despite a late-season swoon affected by injuries to key players including Roope Hintz, Sam Steel, and Miro Heiskanen, managed to clinch home-ice with their April 9 victory. After three consecutive Western Conference Final appearances and losses, Dallas views overcoming the Wild as a necessary step toward ending their championship drought.

For Minnesota, the playoff series represents an opportunity to advance beyond the first round for the first time since 2015. The Wild have not won a playoff series in seven attempts since their last appearance in the second round, making this matchup a pivotal moment in their postseason aspirations.

The series schedule is set, with Games 1 and 2 in Dallas on April 18 and April 20, Games 3 and 4 in Minnesota on April 22 and April 25, and potential Games 5, 6, and 7 alternating venues starting April 28 in Dallas if needed. All times are in Eastern Time, with early games at 5:30 p.m. And later contests at 9:30 p.m.