Wild Dominate Stars 6-1 in Series Opener

Matt Boldy leads Minnesota with 2 goals and an assist

Apr. 19, 2026 at 8:24am

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A cubist-style painting depicting a hockey game broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes of ice, players, and equipment in shades of blue, white, and silver, capturing the dynamic energy of the Minnesota Wild's lopsided win over the Dallas Stars.The Minnesota Wild's dominant 6-1 victory over the Dallas Stars in Game 1 showcases their offensive firepower and depth heading into the series.Dallas Today

The Minnesota Wild routed the Dallas Stars 6-1 in the opening game of their playoff series, led by a strong performance from forward Matt Boldy who scored 2 goals and added an assist. Rookie goaltender Jesper Wallstedt made 27 saves in his postseason debut, while Joel Ericksson Ek scored 2 power play goals for the Wild.

Why it matters

This lopsided win gives the Wild an early advantage in the series and showcases their offensive firepower and depth. The Stars will need to make adjustments quickly to avoid falling into an early hole against a talented Minnesota squad.

The details

The Wild jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first period and never looked back, outshooting the Stars 33-28 on the night. Boldy opened the scoring with a power play goal, then added another tally in the second period. Ericksson Ek's two power play strikes in the first and third periods put the game out of reach for Dallas.

  • The game was played on April 19, 2026.

The players

Matt Boldy

A forward for the Minnesota Wild who led the team with 2 goals and an assist in the series opener.

Joel Ericksson Ek

A forward for the Minnesota Wild who scored 2 power play goals in the game.

Jesper Wallstedt

The rookie goaltender for the Minnesota Wild who made 27 saves in his postseason debut.

Dallas Stars

The opponent of the Minnesota Wild, who were overwhelmed 6-1 in the series opener.

Minnesota Wild

The team that dominated the Dallas Stars 6-1 in the opening game of their playoff series.

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What they’re saying

“We came out with a lot of energy and really set the tone early. That's the kind of start we were looking for.”

— Matt Boldy, Forward, Minnesota Wild

What’s next

The series will continue with Game 2 in Dallas on April 21, 2026.

The takeaway

The Minnesota Wild showed they are a force to be reckoned with, overwhelming the Dallas Stars with their offensive firepower and strong goaltending in the series opener. The Stars will need to make significant adjustments to avoid falling into an early hole in the series.