10 April 2026 at 01:00
Match Summary
Dallas Stars defeated Minnesota Wild 5:4. The match was played in NHL 2025. Goals were scored by W. Johnston 4′, Q. Hughes 13′, K. Kaprizov 19′, K. Kaprizov 6′, C. Blackwell 8′, C. Hughes 16′, R. Hartman 19′, M. Rantanen 4′, J. Robertson 10′. Score by period: P1: 1–2, P2: 2–2, P3: 2–0.
Match Context
NHL Regular Season 2025-26, with three games remaining for both clubs
Home-ice advantage for the first-round playoff series between these two Central Division rivals, who are already confirmed opponents.
Pre-Match Analysis
Dallas Stars Form
Dallas Stars entered this game at 47-20-12 with 106 points, among the elite teams in the Western Conference.
Minnesota Wild Form
Minnesota Wild stood at 45-22-12 with 102 points — and had gone a remarkable 61-0-4 when leading after the second period since March 2024.
Head to Head
The teams were already confirmed as first-round playoff opponents, making this a high-stakes dress rehearsal.
Injuries & Suspensions
- •Miro Heiskanen (Dallas Stars) - lower-body injury, did not return after being knocked hard into the boards in the first period
Match Report
Wyatt Johnston put Dallas ahead at 4:26 of the first period before Minnesota flipped the game. Quinn Hughes tied it at 13:02, then Kirill Kaprizov converted a power-play goal with just 16 seconds left in the first to send the Wild into the first intermission leading 2-1. Kaprizov struck again on the power play at 6:39 of the second to extend the lead to 3-1, threatening to bury the Stars. But Dallas answered quickly: Colin Blackwell cut the deficit to 3-2 at 8:03, and Cameron Hughes scored a stunning tying goal at 16:16 — his first career NHL goal — to level at 3-3. Minnesota responded ruthlessly, with Ryan Hartman converting another power play with just 9 seconds left in the second period to give the Wild a 4-3 lead heading into the third. The third period belonged entirely to Dallas. Mikko Rantanen tied it at 4-4 at 4:28 when Thomas Harley's point shot deflected off his skate. Then Jason Robertson collected a no-look cross-ice pass from Esa Lindell at the right face-off dot and buried his 42nd goal of the season at 10:35 to give Dallas the lead for good. Jake Oettinger held firm to secure the 5-4 victory.
Turning Point
Robertson's goal at 10:35 of the third off Lindell's brilliant cross-ice pass. But the real shift came moments earlier — Rantanen's tying goal broke the Wild's grip on the game and forced Minnesota, suddenly, to defend rather than attack.
Dallas maintains a four-point lead (106 vs 102) over Minnesota with three games remaining and keeps home-ice advantage for their already-confirmed first-round playoff matchup. The win also broke Minnesota's remarkable 61-0-4 run when leading after the second period.
Match Events
Key match events between Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild — 9 goals and 15 cards recorded during the match.
M. Rantanen
Tripping
M. Zuccarello
Roughing
Roughing
Roughing
M. Zuccarello
Roughing
Roughing
Interference
O. Back
Holding
Q. Hughes
W. Johnston
Roughing
Roughing
Slashing
Roughing
Roughing
Roughing
Roughing
Dallas Stars vs Minnesota Wild Head to Head Results
Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild have met 97 times — Dallas Stars won 56, Minnesota Wild won 41, with 0 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2008. Dallas Stars leads the head-to-head with 56 victories from 97 meetings. A combined 568 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 5.86 per match (306 for the home side, 262 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 84 matches (87%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 95 games (98%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals. The highest-scoring encounter finished 3–8 in 2023.
56
Dallas Stars
0
Drawn
41
Minnesota Wild
Recent Meetings (97)
Standings
Dallas Stars sit — and Minnesota Wild are — in the NHL table heading into this match.
Eastern Conference
| # | GP | Won | Lost | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 82 | 53 | 22 | 113 | |
| 82 | 50 | 23 | 109 | |
| 82 | 50 | 26 | 106 | |
| 82 | 48 | 24 | 106 | |
| 82 | 45 | 27 | 100 | |
| 82 | 44 | 27 | 99 | |
| 82 | 41 | 25 | 98 | |
| 82 | 43 | 27 | 98 | |
| 82 | 43 | 30 | 95 | |
| 82 | 41 | 31 | 92 | |
| 82 | 40 | 30 | 92 | |
| 82 | 43 | 34 | 91 | |
| 82 | 42 | 37 | 87 | |
| 82 | 40 | 38 | 84 | |
| 82 | 32 | 36 | 78 | |
| 82 | 34 | 39 | 77 |
Match Analysis AI
Robertson Rescues Stars: Dallas Rallies from 4-3 Deficit to Beat Wild 5-4
A riveting late-season clash at American Airlines Center delivered everything a first-round playoff preview should — drama, momentum swings, and a decisive late goal. Jason Robertson's 42nd goal of the season with under 10 minutes to play lifted the Dallas Stars to a 5-4 comeback win over the Minnesota Wild on April 9, 2026, snapping Minnesota's extraordinary run of form when holding a second-period lead.
A Wild First Period
Wyatt Johnston broke the ice early, tapping home his goal at 4:26 to put Dallas in front. But Minnesota took control. Quinn Hughes tied it at 13:02, and Kirill Kaprizov — already en route to a record-equalling season — struck on the power play with just 16 seconds left in the period to give the Wild a 2-1 lead heading into the first intermission.
Minnesota Push, Dallas Rally
The Wild looked set to take control of the second period. Kaprizov struck again on the power play at 6:39 to make it 3-1, his 45th goal of the season and his 19th on the power play — matching his own single-season franchise record.
But the Stars refused to fold. Colin Blackwell pulled one back at 8:03, and then the night's most unexpected hero stepped up: Cameron Hughes scored his first career NHL goal at 16:16, levelling at 3-3 and sending the home crowd into a frenzy.
The joy was short-lived. With just 9 seconds remaining in the second period, Ryan Hartman pounced on another power-play opportunity to slam the Wild back in front, 4-3. It was a devastating blow — Minnesota, remarkably, had gone 61-0-4 when leading after two periods since March 2024.
Robertson Delivers
But Dallas had different ideas. Mikko Rantanen tied the game at 4-4 just 4:28 into the third, deflecting a Thomas Harley point shot with his skate. The momentum had completely shifted.
Then came the defining moment. Esa Lindell spotted Robertson at the right face-off dot with a no-look cross-ice pass — Robertson's shot was instant and precise, his 42nd goal of the season making it 5-4 at 10:35. Minnesota pressed late, but Jake Oettinger (27 saves) held firm.
What It Means
Dallas stays four points clear of Minnesota (106 to 102) with three games left, keeping home-ice advantage for their already-confirmed first-round playoff series. The victory also shattered Minnesota's remarkable record of never losing when leading after two periods — 61-0-4 since March 2024, until tonight.
Kaprizov's power play remains a genuine playoff threat, and the Wild have the talent to go deep. But Dallas showed the resilience and star power to win when it matters. This playoff series is going to be special.
Player Ratings
Jason Robertson (Dallas Stars)
Scored the game-winning 42nd goal off a perfectly executed feed from Esa Lindell, delivering when it mattered most in the third period.
Kirill Kaprizov (Minnesota Wild)
Scored twice on the power play to match his single-season franchise record of 19 PPGs (45 goals total) — and gave Minnesota every chance to win.
Cameron Hughes (Dallas Stars)
Scored his first career NHL goal at the pivotal 3-3 moment of the second period, a defining moment in his young career.
Mikko Rantanen (Dallas Stars)
Tied the game 4-4 in the third period to set up Robertson's winner, contributing an assist as well.
Match Videos
Wild vs. Stars | NHL Highlights | April 09, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final score of Dallas Stars vs Minnesota Wild on April 9, 2026?
Dallas Stars won 5-4 against the Minnesota Wild in a thrilling NHL regular-season game at American Airlines Center.
Who scored for the Dallas Stars against the Wild?
Wyatt Johnston (4:26 1st), Colin Blackwell (8:03 2nd), Cameron Hughes (16:16 2nd), Mikko Rantanen (4:28 3rd), and Jason Robertson (10:35 3rd — game-winner).
Who scored for the Minnesota Wild against Dallas?
Quinn Hughes (13:02 1st), Kirill Kaprizov twice (19:44 1st PP and 6:39 2nd PP), and Ryan Hartman (19:49 2nd PP).
Did Dallas Stars come from behind to win?
Yes. Dallas trailed 4-3 going into the third period after Hartman's power-play goal with 9 seconds left in the second. Rantanen tied it and Robertson scored the winner in the third.
How many power-play goals did Kirill Kaprizov score?
Kaprizov scored two power-play goals, giving him 19 PPGs on the season — matching his single-season Minnesota Wild franchise record.
What does this result mean for the playoffs?
Dallas and Minnesota are already confirmed as first-round playoff opponents. Dallas' win keeps their four-point lead with three games left, meaning home-ice advantage remains in the Stars' favor.
API data: 17 Apr 2026