Dallas Stars left wing Jason Robertson (21) smiles after scoring his third goal against the Philadelphia Flyers as Dallas Stars center Wyatt Johnston (53) looks on during the third period of an NHL hockey game at American Airlines Center, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, in Dallas.
Chitose Suzuki/Staff Photographer
The countdown to the NHL playoffs is well underway, and a battle between the Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild is in store.
The second- and third-best teams in the West will go head-to-head, and only one will make it out of the first round. The winner will likely earn a date with Presidents’ Trophy winner Colorado.
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Ahead of the series, which begins in Dallas on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. CT, here are four keys for the Stars when facing the Wild.
Win battle of Robertson-Johnston vs. Kaprizov-Boldy
The top-end talent in this matchup ranks among the league’s best, with both franchises seeing historic seasons from a duo of players.
Wild forwards Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy became Minnesota’s first pair of 40-goal, 80-plus scorers. Similarly, Dallas forwards Wyatt Johnston and Jason Robertson became the Stars’ first pair of 40-goal scorers since leaving Minnesota and moving to Dallas in 1993.
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Which duo has better success in the series could ultimately decide it.
Robertson and Johnston are by far the more experienced duo when it comes to playoff hockey, and that could serve them well. They have 112 combined games of NHL experience, compared to just 43 total for Kaprizov and Boldy.
But the Stars’ forwards also know scoring dries up in the playoffs and that they’ll need to work even harder to maintain the stable production they’ve had all season.
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The Stars also have Mikko Rantanen, who has shined in his postseason career with 123 points in 99 games. He could certainly put Dallas over the edge.
Play physical, but controlled
If the final regular-season meeting between these two teams was any indication, this series will be physical.
There were 12 roughing penalties called in the April 9 meeting, with the two teams constantly exchanging blows after whistles.
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The Stars haven’t stepped up to the plate physically in recent postseasons. After Darnell Nurse slashed Roope Hintz and fractured his foot in last season’s Western Conference finals, the Stars didn’t retaliate to stand up for their teammate as much as they could, largely at the direction of then-head coach Pete DeBoer.
But new head coach Glen Gulutzan has encouraged ramping up the physicality all season. He and GM Jim Nill have added more physical players to the roster like Justin Hryckowian, Michael Bunting and Adam Erne, who can stand up for their teammates when necessary.
The Stars need to be prepared to do so, but within reason. Certain players like Jamie Benn have taken it too far in the past, like his cross check of Mark Stone in the 2023 playoffs that led to a two-game suspension.
Get healthy, stay healthy
The Stars’ health will be a key storyline in this series, as Dallas is set to be without Hintz for at least the first two games.
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The top-line centerman suffered an injury in early March after a collision with Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche and suffered a setback in his recovery that prevented him from returning late in the regular season, as originally expected.
The status of his countryman Miro Heiskanen is also unknown, as Heiskanen suffered a lower-body injury after a hit from Ryan Hartman in the final regular-season meeting with the Wild. The Stars are hopeful to have him back for Game 1, but aren’t yet certain.
The Stars managed to win a series last playoffs without Heiskanen and Jason Robertson. There’s no reason they couldn’t do so without two key players again.
But Dallas has little room to take on any more injuries to key players. In a series as tight as this one is expected to be, they could certainly use both players back by the time it heads to Minnesota.
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Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger is introduced before an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers at American Airlines Center on Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Dallas.
Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News
Capitalize on goaltending advantage
Playoff experience can especially benefit goaltenders, and Jake Oettinger has a lot of it.
The Stars goalie has more playoff starts (63) than both of Minnesota’s goalies combined. Filip Gustavsson has just 11 with a 4-6 record, and rookie Jesper Wallstedt has zero.
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The Wild haven’t yet named a Game 1 starter, but they’ll be at an experience advantage either way.
Oettinger has been solid for Dallas in the last four playoff runs, especially the early rounds. He has a .913 career postseason save percentage and 2.56 goals-against average.
The Dallas goalie could be a difference for the Stars, who may be shorthanded defensively if Heiskanen can’t play. The Stars need him to be at his best from the moment the puck drops.