Wild Dominate Stars in Game 1 Victory

Minnesota Wild take Game 1 on the road with a 6-1 win over the Dallas Stars

Apr. 19, 2026 at 1:40pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a Minnesota Wild hockey game, with sharp, overlapping planes of green, red, and gold representing the players and action on the ice.The Minnesota Wild's depth scoring and defensive prowess overwhelmed the Dallas Stars in a decisive Game 1 victory.Dallas Today

The Minnesota Wild captured a huge Game 1 win on the road in Dallas with a dominating 6-1 performance. The Wild got goals from four different players, including two from Joel Eriksson Ek, and strong defensive play to limit the Stars' chances and support rookie goalie Jesper Wallstedt.

Why it matters

The Wild's depth scoring and defensive effort in Game 1 were key factors in their dominant win. After last year's first-round loss to the Golden Knights where just seven Wild players recorded a goal, the team's ability to get contributions from multiple sources is a positive sign for their playoff run.

The details

The Wild's top players were electric, with Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy, Ryan Hartman, and Joel Eriksson Ek all scoring goals. Mats Zuccarello also recorded three assists. The Wild's defensemen, led by Brock Faber's strong two-way performance, did an excellent job limiting the Stars' chances and supporting rookie goalie Jesper Wallstedt. The Wild also capitalized on their power play opportunities, going 2-for-4.

  • The Minnesota Wild captured the Game 1 win on the road in Dallas on April 18, 2026.

The players

Kirill Kaprizov

A star forward for the Minnesota Wild who scored a goal in the Game 1 victory.

Joel Eriksson Ek

A Wild forward who scored two goals in the Game 1 win, a key performance after going goalless in last year's playoffs.

Brock Faber

A Wild defenseman who was the best player on the ice, generating opportunities and moving the puck effectively despite only recording one assist.

Jesper Wallstedt

The rookie goaltender for the Minnesota Wild who made key saves to support his team's dominant defensive effort in Game 1.

Mats Zuccarello

A veteran forward for the Wild who recorded three assists in the Game 1 victory.

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What they’re saying

“I can't complain about anyone who wore a Wild jersey last night, but here are my three takeaways from the huge win.”

— Matteo Giuliano, Author

“I talked about how Eriksson Ek went goalless in the loss to the Golden Knights last year, and he desperately needed to produce offensively in these playoffs. With two pretty similar goals on the power play, he did just that.”

— Matteo Giuliano, Author

“To me, Faber was the best player on the ice all night. He was only able to record one assist, but he did so much at an elite level that didn't show on the scoresheet. He was fantastic at generating opportunities and moving the puck through the neutral zone.”

— Matteo Giuliano, Author

What’s next

The Wild will look to build on their Game 1 success and take a 2-0 series lead when they face the Stars again in Dallas on April 20, 2026.

The takeaway

The Minnesota Wild's dominant performance in Game 1, led by contributions from their depth players and strong defensive effort, has them in a great position to advance in the playoffs. If they can maintain this level of play, they will be a tough team to beat.