Stars Stumble in Game 1 Against Wild

Dallas drops series opener at home for 9th time in last 11 playoff runs

Apr. 19, 2026 at 5:06am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A cubist-style painting depicting a hockey game, with players and the puck broken down into overlapping geometric shapes and planes, conveying the intensity and movement of the game.The Stars' inability to gain an early advantage sets them back in their playoff opener against the Wild.Dallas Today

The Dallas Stars fell behind early and were unable to mount a comeback, losing Game 1 of their playoff series against the Minnesota Wild by a score of 6-1 on Saturday. This continues a troubling trend for the Stars, who have now lost the opening game at home in 9 of their last 11 postseason appearances.

Why it matters

The Stars have struggled to get off to strong starts in the playoffs in recent years, often falling behind early in series and being forced to play catch-up. This pattern has made it difficult for the team to advance deep into the postseason, and they will need to find a way to reverse this trend if they hope to make a run this year.

The details

The Stars fell behind 4-0 early in the game and were never able to recover. Goaltender Jake Oettinger had a tough outing, allowing 4 goals on 13 shots before being pulled in the second period. The Wild took control of the game with their physical, aggressive style of play, limiting the Stars' scoring chances throughout.

  • The game was played on Saturday, April 19, 2026.

The players

Jake Oettinger

The Stars' starting goaltender, who struggled in Game 1, allowing 4 goals on 13 shots before being pulled.

Minnesota Wild

The Stars' playoff opponent, who dominated the game with their physical and aggressive style of play.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We have to be better from the start. Falling behind like that makes it really tough to come back against a team like Minnesota.”

— Jamie Benn, Stars Captain

What’s next

The Stars will look to even the series in Game 2, which is scheduled for Monday, April 21, 2026 at American Airlines Center.

The takeaway

The Stars' inability to get off to strong starts in the playoffs has been a recurring issue, and they will need to find a way to reverse this trend if they hope to make a deep postseason run. The Game 1 loss to the Wild is just the latest example of this problem, and the team will need to regroup quickly to avoid falling into an early series hole.