Minnesota Wild Look to Make Playoff History Against Dallas Stars

Wild aim to go up 2-0 in series for the first time in franchise history after dominant Game 1 win.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 11:06pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a hockey game between the Minnesota Wild and Dallas Stars, with the players and action broken down into sharp, overlapping shapes and planes of vibrant green, red, and blue colors.The Minnesota Wild's dominant Game 1 victory over the Dallas Stars sets up a chance for the franchise to make playoff history.Dallas Today

The Minnesota Wild have a chance to do something they've never done before in the NHL playoffs - go up 2-0 in a series. After a 6-1 thumping of the Dallas Stars in Game 1, the Wild are one win away from taking a commanding lead in the first-round matchup. Minnesota has never gone up 2-0 in 15 previous playoff appearances, while the Stars are familiar with falling behind early in series, having lost Game 1 in 9 of their last 11 postseason matchups.

Why it matters

The Wild have struggled to close out playoff series in the past, losing their last 9 postseason series in the Western Conference. Going up 2-0 would give them a golden opportunity to finally break through and advance past the first round for the first time since 2015. For the Stars, falling behind early in series has become a troubling trend, though they've often found a way to come back and win.

The details

Minnesota scored three goals in the first 6:30 of the second period to take a 4-0 lead in Game 1. Matt Boldy had two goals and an assist, while Joel Eriksson Ek scored two power-play goals. Rookie goalie Jesper Wallstedt stopped 27 of 28 shots in his playoff debut. The Stars pulled starting goalie Jake Oettinger after he gave up 5 goals on 28 shots.

  • The Wild won Game 1 on April 19, 2026.
  • Game 2 is scheduled for April 21, 2026.

The players

John Hynes

Head coach of the Minnesota Wild.

Matt Boldy

Forward for the Minnesota Wild who had two goals and an assist in Game 1.

Jesper Wallstedt

Rookie goaltender for the Minnesota Wild who made 27 saves in his playoff debut.

Jake Oettinger

Goaltender for the Dallas Stars who was pulled after giving up 5 goals on 28 shots in Game 1.

Glen Gulutzan

Head coach of the Dallas Stars.

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What they’re saying

“We won a game, we didn't win a series. So it's just moving on to Game 2. ... We're not satisfied with winning one game.”

— John Hynes, Head coach, Minnesota Wild

“We're living in the now, the past is the past. Different teams, different identities, different experience levels. We go into this game with the same mindset we went in going into Game 1. ... Doesn't matter if you're up 2-0, up 3-0. It doesn't matter until you get the fourth (win). So that's our mindset and we're not looking too far.”

— Matt Boldy, Forward, Minnesota Wild

“I'm not too worried. This team is really good at resetting and coming back the next night.”

— Mikko Rantanen, Forward, Dallas Stars

What’s next

Game 2 of the series is scheduled for April 21, 2026 in Minnesota. The Wild will look to take a 2-0 series lead, something they've never done in franchise history, while the Stars will aim to bounce back and even the series.

The takeaway

The Wild's dominant Game 1 performance has given them a golden opportunity to make some franchise history, but the Stars have proven to be resilient in the playoffs, often bouncing back from early series deficits. This series is far from over, and the Wild will need to maintain their high level of play to put the Stars in an even deeper hole.