Dallas Stars center Matt Duchene (95) slams his body into the glass after scoring on Minnesota Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt in the second period in Game 2 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series in Dallas, April 20, 2026.
Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News
The series is even heading to Minnesota.
The Stars responded from a flat performance to open the playoffs with a 4-2 victory in Game 2 over the Minnesota Wild on Monday at American Airlines Center.
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Wyatt Johnston and Matt Duchene scored early, and the Stars’ defense, led by goalie Jake Oettinger, held the Wild to four fewer goals than they scored Saturday. Brock Faber scored a pair of goals, but Dallas’ Jason Robertson scored the game-winner. Johnston added an empty-net goal with 50 seconds to play.
The win was Stars coach Glen Gulutzan’s first in the playoffs as a head coach.
Here are five takeaways from the Stars’ first win of the postseason:
Stars deliver much-needed response
Despite falling 6-1 in the series opener, the Stars weren’t too worried.
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Dallas has lost Game 1 in nine of its last 11 playoff series, dating to 2022. In seven of those series, they’ve gone on to win Game 2.
The Stars came out prepared to respond, putting together a far more convincing start than Saturday, when they fell behind 4-0.
The penalty kill showed up early, as did Oettinger, who made nearly a dozen saves in the first period. Dallas capitalized on a lucky bounce to get on the board, something they weren’t able to do Saturday.
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Once Dallas took its first lead of the series in the second period, it was able to hold on, thanks to a far better performance from its defense and penalty kill.
Minnesota has still never taken a 2-0 lead in a playoff series in its history. Fortunately for the Stars, they head to St. Paul on even footing.
Jason Robertson makes early statement
Robertson has shown up early in this series.
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After scoring Dallas’ lone goal in Game 1 on Saturday, Robertson scored on a deflection midway through the third period to give the Stars a 3-1 lead and some insurance to prevent a Minnesota comeback.
Faber scored his second goal of the game minutes later, making Robertson’s the game-winner.
The Dallas forward, who tied for the team lead in goals with 45 this season, has seven goals in his last seven games.
The Stars will need him to keep delivering this postseason, but he’s off to a strong start.
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Jake Oettinger saves series
Oettinger quickly ended the conversation over who should’ve started Game 2.
After allowing five goals in Game 1, the Stars netminder came out sharp and single-handedly kept the game tied through one period.
Oettinger first made a save on a Grade-A chance by Danila Yurov, which immediately led to Johnston’s goal at the other end. Minutes later, he robbed Matt Boldy twice — once on a point-blank glove save and again with his glove on the breakaway.
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The Stars and Wild were tied at 1-1 after a period. If it weren’t for Oettinger, who made 11 saves in the opening frame, it would’ve been 4-1 at least.
Dallas’ goalie continued his history of responding well in the playoffs, with a 19-8 record now after a postseason loss. He finished with 28 saves.
Stars turn special teams tides in their favor
After giving up five power play goals in their last two meetings with the Wild between the regular season and postseason, the Stars’ penalty kill locked in.
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Dallas didn’t give up a goal on four Minnesota power plays Monday. Ahead of the game, Gulutzan said the penalty kill was their focus and part of the reason they brought in rookie Arttu Hyry, a skilled penalty killer, to make his NHL debut.
Hyry finished with 40 seconds of shorthanded ice time, contributing to Dallas’ effort.
The Stars also had to kill off a too-many-men-on-the-ice penalty with 3:44 left in regulation and just a one-goal lead.
Meanwhile, the Stars’ power play scored again. After Robertson put the group on the board last game, Duchene finished a flawless pass from Mikko Rantanen in the second period to give the Stars a 2-0 advantage.
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Johnston’s second of the game, which was into an empty net, was also technically on the power play.
Special teams may dictate this series, as they have in the first two games. The Stars appear to be getting on the right side of that battle.
Colin Blackwell, Foligno brothers set tone for physicality
What was surprisingly absent in Game 1 — anticipated physicality between these two teams — returned with no problem in Game 2.
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Both teams delivered their fair share of blows to the other.
Stars forward Colin Blackwell, who is just 5-8, delivered a booming open-ice hit to Minnesota forward Yakov Trenin, the NHL’s leader in hits, in the first period.
Trenin was injured on the play and skated off the ice bleeding from his face. He never returned.
Despite his teammates coming to his defense and not liking the hit, it was legal.
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Two Wild players responded in the second period. Brothers Nick and Marcus Foligno each took penalties on rather aggressive plays. Nick elbowed Nils Lundkvist, leading to Duchene’s goal. Marcus, who was interfered with by Thomas Harley, received a double-minor for a dangerous play where he put Harley in a headlock and slammed his head into the boards.
So many post-whistle scrums broke out after the play that there weren’t enough officials to separate them all.
As the series heads to Minnesota and nears its second half, the intensity may only further ramp up from here.