Stars Edge Wild in Final Regular‑Season Showdown

Playoff Stakes

The Dallas Stars (46‑20‑12) host the Minnesota Wild (45‑21‑12) on Thursday at 9 p.m. ET. Both clubs sit atop the Western Conference, with Dallas holding the second seed (104 points) and Minnesota the third (102 points). The winner could clinch home‑ice advantage in a potential first‑round playoff series.

Recent Form

Dallas has dominated the rivalry, earning points in 16 of the last 17 meetings and posting a 10‑1‑6 record since December 2021. The Wild enter on a four‑game winning streak, looking to reverse the trend.

Key Performers

Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen leads Dallas with four points in the series, while Jake Oettinger is 1‑1‑1 with a 2.31 GAA and .929 save percentage. For Minnesota, Vladimir Tarasenko has amassed 34 points in 39 career games against Dallas, and Kirill Kaprizov sits at 87 points this season.

The matchup promises a high‑stakes clash as the Western Conference’s top teams vie for positioning before the playoffs begin.