Wild Face Crucial Lineup Decisions Before Playoffs

Minnesota must make tough calls on goaltender, key players ahead of first-round matchup with Dallas Stars

Apr. 13, 2026 at 11:09am

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting a Minnesota Wild hockey game, with the players and rink broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes of vibrant colors.The Minnesota Wild face a pivotal first-round playoff matchup, requiring strategic lineup decisions to unlock their full potential.Dallas Today

The Minnesota Wild have clinched a playoff spot, but head coach John Hynes and his staff still have crucial lineup decisions to make before their first-round series against the Dallas Stars. The biggest question is who will be in net for Game 1, as the Wild have multiple capable goaltenders. Beyond that, the team must determine the optimal lineup to give themselves the best chance of advancing past the opening round, which has been a challenge for the franchise in recent years.

Why it matters

The Wild have been a consistent playoff team in recent seasons, but have struggled to get past the first round. With a talented roster led by star winger Kirill Kaprizov, this could be Minnesota's best chance in years to make a deep postseason run. However, the team will need to navigate some tricky personnel decisions to ice the optimal lineup against a tough Dallas squad.

The details

The Wild's biggest question mark heading into the playoffs is in goal, where they have multiple capable netminders vying for the starting job. Veteran Cam Talbot and up-and-comer Filip Gustavsson both had strong regular seasons, leaving Hynes with a tough choice on who to tab as the Game 1 starter. Beyond that, the Wild will also need to determine the status of several key injured players and how they fit into the lineup.

  • The Wild have clinched a playoff spot for the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
  • Minnesota will face the Dallas Stars in the first round, with Game 1 scheduled for April 30th.

The players

John Hynes

Head coach of the Minnesota Wild, tasked with making the crucial lineup decisions ahead of the playoffs.

Kirill Kaprizov

Star winger for the Minnesota Wild, whose dominant play will be crucial to the team's postseason success.

Cam Talbot

Veteran goaltender for the Minnesota Wild, one of the two netminders vying for the starting job in the playoffs.

Filip Gustavsson

Up-and-coming goaltender for the Minnesota Wild, the other netminder competing for the starting role in the playoffs.

Dallas Stars

The Minnesota Wild's first-round opponent in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

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What’s next

The Wild will need to make their final roster decisions in the days leading up to Game 1 against the Dallas Stars on April 30th.

The takeaway

The Minnesota Wild have a talented roster and a prime opportunity to make a deep playoff run, but they must navigate some tricky lineup choices in goal and with injured players to give themselves the best chance of advancing past the first round for the first time in several years.