For the first time since 2016, the Stars and Wild are battling in the postseason. Dallas and Minnesota are set to meet in the first round of the 2023 playoffs.
The Stars got bumped out of the top spot in the Central Division on the final day of the regular season, as the Avalanche leapfrogged the club for first place. As a result, Dallas ended the season second in the division.
In the first year with Peter DeBoer at the helm, the Stars became one of the best defensive teams this season, finishing the year with the best team goals-against average in the Western Conference. The offense improved as well, no longer relying solely on the dynamic top line of Jason Robertson, Roope Hintz and Joe Pavelski.
Dallas is aiming to win its first playoff series since making a run to the conference championship in 2020. The Stars lost in the first round to the Flames in 2022.
The Wild ended their season third in the division. Kirill Kaprizov was sensational again for the Wild, but the more notable storyline was the club’s success without Kaprizov. In the 20 games without Kaprizov late in the season, the Wild managed to go 8-3-4, maintaining their spot in the playoffs.
Minnesota has not won a playoff series since 2015 and have not made it to the conference finals since 2003.
NHL PLAYOFF PICTURE: Updated standings, bracket, matchups & key dates
Here’s what you need to know about the series between the Stars and Wild.
Key storyline: Which team gets more depth scoring?
The Wild and Stars both are excellent defensive teams. Dallas ended the regular season with the third-best team GAA, allowing just 2.61 goals per game. Minnesota was not far behind at No. 7, allowing an average of 2.67 goals per game.
The difference maker in this series will be the depth scoring. The Stars’ offense is not nearly as bad as it was last year when it relied solely on Robertson, Hintz and Pavelski, but that top line still produces a ton of the team scoring.
The same can be said about the Wild, who rely a ton on Kaprizov to score. It was reassuring to see the team perform well when Kaprizov was out, but Joel Eriksson Ek, who finished third on the team in goals and fourth in points, is hurt to start the postseason.
Teams find success in the postseason by getting production from their bottom six. If the big boys on Minnesota and Dallas can keep up with each other, then those third and fourth lines are going to be deciding factors.
Stars vs. Wild playoff schedule, TV channels
| Date | Site | Time (ET) | TV |
| Mon., April 17 | at Dallas | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN, SN, CBC, TVAS |
| Wed., April 19 | at Dallas | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN, SN, CBC, TVAS |
| Fri., April 21 | at Minnesota | 9:30 p.m. | TNT, SN, CBC, TVAS |
| Sun., April 23 | at Minnesota | 6:30 p.m. | TBS, SN, CBC, TVAS |
| *Tue., April 25 | at Dallas | TBD | TBD |
| *Fri. April 28 | at Minnesota | TBD | TBD |
| *Sun., April 30 | at Dallas | TBD | TBD |
* If necessary
Stars vs. Wild odds
Sports Interaction lists the Stars as the team to beat, with -141 odds to win the series. It also gives Dallas -142 odds to win Game 1 of the series.
Stars: -141
Wild: +124
Odds provided by Sports Interaction
Stars vs. Wild prediction
These two Central Division foes match up quite evenly. Both sides rely on their star offensive players to provide a majority of the offense, while each has elite-level goaltending.
The problem is that the Wild have no clear starter in net. Filip Gustavsson has better numbers than Marc-Andre Fleury, but Fleury has the playoff experience, which is why Minnesota brought him in last year in the first place.
As the old saying goes, if you have two goalies, you have none. I think playoff Jake Oettinger steals the show again this year, this time coming out of the first round with a win.
Prediction: Stars in six.