Wild dominate Stars in 6-1 Game 1 playoff win

Minnesota takes commanding 1-0 series lead with dominant performance in Dallas

Apr. 19, 2026 at 9:10pm

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting breaking down a hockey game into sharp, overlapping geometric planes of green, gold, and blue, conceptually representing the Minnesota Wild's decisive playoff victory.The Minnesota Wild's dominant Game 1 performance against the Dallas Stars showcases their playoff potential through a cubist, geometric interpretation of the action on the ice.Dallas Today

The Minnesota Wild dominated the Dallas Stars from start to finish in a 6-1 victory in Game 1 of their Stanley Cup Playoff series. Matt Boldy and Joel Eriksson Ek each scored two goals and added an assist to lead the offensive onslaught, while goaltender Jesper Wallstedt made 27 saves in his playoff debut.

Why it matters

The Wild's decisive win on the road sends a strong message that they are a force to be reckoned with in the playoffs. Minnesota was the better team throughout, controlling the pace of play and capitalizing on their scoring chances. This performance could set the tone for the rest of the series.

The details

The Wild struck first in the opening period when Eriksson Ek scored to make it 1-0. Minnesota then erupted for three goals in the second period from Kirill Kaprizov, Ryan Hartman, and Boldy to take a commanding 4-1 lead. Eriksson Ek and Boldy added third period goals to seal the victory.

  • The Wild opened the scoring in the first period with Eriksson Ek's goal.
  • Minnesota scored three times in the second period to take a 4-1 lead.
  • Eriksson Ek and Boldy added third period goals to make the final score 6-1.

The players

Matt Boldy

The Wild forward had two goals and an assist in the Game 1 win.

Joel Eriksson Ek

The Wild center also scored two goals and added an assist in the dominant performance.

Jesper Wallstedt

The Wild goaltender made 27 saves in his Stanley Cup Playoff debut.

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What they’re saying

“We came out strong and set the tone early. That's the kind of effort we need to keep this going.”

— Joel Eriksson Ek, Wild Center

What’s next

Game 2 of the series is set for Tuesday night in Dallas. A win would give the Wild a 2-0 series lead, which would be a first in franchise history.

The takeaway

The Wild's decisive Game 1 victory on the road demonstrates their ability to dominate an opponent and sets them up well to potentially advance past the first round of the playoffs for the first time since 2015.