Stars Take Win Streak Into Playoffs as Wild Goalies Await

Dallas enters postseason on a high note, while Minnesota boasts a strong goaltending duo.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 1:25am

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A cubist-style painting depicting a hockey game, with the players and ice rink broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes in a variety of colors, creating a dynamic and fragmented visual representation of the sport.The upcoming playoff clash between the Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild promises to be a battle of contrasting styles, with the Stars' recent hot streak colliding with the Wild's formidable goaltending duo.Dallas Today

The Dallas Stars are heading into the Stanley Cup Playoffs on a five-game winning streak, a stark contrast to last year when they entered the playoffs on a seven-game skid. The Stars are also healthier this year, with defenseman Miro Heiskanen returning to practice after a lower-body injury. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Wild will rely on their strong goaltending duo of Filip Gustavsson and Jesper Wallstedt in the first-round matchup against the Stars.

Why it matters

The Stars' late-season surge and improved health could give them an advantage heading into the playoffs, where they hope to build on last year's run to the Western Conference finals. The Wild's goaltending tandem will be crucial in their attempt to upset the Stars, as both Gustavsson and Wallstedt have played well during the regular season.

The details

The Stars are coming off a 4-3 shootout win against the Buffalo Sabres in their regular-season finale, which gave them 50 wins for the third straight season and seventh time in franchise history. Forward Sam Steel and defenseman Nils Lundkvist returned from injuries for that game. The Wild, meanwhile, concluded their regular season with a 3-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks, and they have been preparing to face the Stars for over a week.

  • The Stars host the Wild in Game 1 of their first-round series on Saturday.
  • Dallas finished the regular season on a five-game winning streak.
  • Minnesota alternated starts between goalies Filip Gustavsson and Jesper Wallstedt during the regular season.

The players

Sam Steel

A Dallas Stars forward who returned from injury for the team's regular-season finale.

Miro Heiskanen

A Dallas Stars defenseman who returned to practice on Friday after missing the past three games with a lower-body injury.

Jason Robertson

The Dallas Stars' leading scorer with 45 goals and 96 points during the regular season.

Filip Gustavsson

A Minnesota Wild goaltender who has provided great experience and leadership for the team's goaltending corps.

Jesper Wallstedt

A Minnesota Wild rookie goaltender who finished the regular season with the second-best save percentage in the NHL.

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What they’re saying

“Last year, we were comfortable and confident going into the playoffs, but it is nice going in winning. There are less questions.”

— Sam Steel, Dallas Stars forward

“What we do know is Wally's a strong goalie. He's played really well. He's come a long way in his development. He's a top-end NHL goalie.”

— John Hynes, Minnesota Wild coach

“Night in and night out, he's always given the team a chance to win. It's very nice to have a duo like that, if you don't have to feel the pressure to play all the games. You know if he's in the pipes, the team has a very good chance to win anyway. It's a great duo to have.”

— Filip Gustavsson, Minnesota Wild goaltender

What’s next

Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes, who missed the last two practices due to illness, is expected to fly to Dallas and be available for Game 1 against the Stars.

The takeaway

The Stars' late-season surge and improved health, combined with the Wild's strong goaltending duo, set the stage for an intriguing first-round playoff matchup between these two Western Conference foes.