Stars and Wild Set for Highly Anticipated Playoff Clash

Central Division rivals meet in hard-hitting first-round series opener

Apr. 18, 2026 at 12:09am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the action and intensity of a hockey game between two teams, with sharp, overlapping planes of color and form representing the physical nature of the contest.The highly anticipated first-round playoff clash between the Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild is set to feature the same hard-hitting intensity that defined their recent regular-season matchup.Dallas Today

The Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild, long-expected to face off in the first round of the NHL playoffs, are set to begin their postseason matchup after a physical regular-season meeting just over a week ago at the same venue.

Why it matters

This Central Division rivalry has been brewing all season, with the Stars and Wild finishing near the top of the standings and establishing themselves as two of the Western Conference's top teams. Their physical, high-stakes clash in the opening round promises an intense, hard-hitting series between these familiar foes.

The details

The Stars and Wild recently met on April 10th in a game that set the tone for their upcoming playoff series, with both teams engaging in a physical battle that foreshadowed the intensity to come in the postseason.

  • The Stars and Wild are set to begin their first-round playoff series on April 18, 2026.
  • The teams faced off in a physical regular-season matchup just over a week ago on April 10, 2026.

The players

Mikko Rantanen

A forward for the Dallas Stars who commented on the physical nature of the recent regular-season game between the two teams.

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What they’re saying

“I think it's exactly what it was,”

— Mikko Rantanen, Stars forward

The takeaway

This first-round playoff series between the Stars and Wild promises to be a hard-hitting, high-intensity affair between two of the Western Conference's top teams, who have been on a collision course for months and have already set the tone for a physical, rivalry-fueled matchup.