Minnesota Wild vs Dallas Stars Prediction 4/18/2026 Today’s NHL Picks

The Minnesota Wild and Dallas Stars meet Saturday in NHL Game 1 at the American Airlines Center. Here’s a Minnesota Wild vs. Dallas Stars Prediction. This article will include a Minnesota Wild vs. Dallas Stars Pick.

Minnesota Wild Betting Preview

The Minnesota Wild recently beat the Ducks and lost to the Blues. The Wild are in the playoffs for the sixth time in the last seven years. The Wild have split their last 16 games.

The Minnesota Wild are averaging 3.27 goals per game and are scoring 25.2 percent of their power play opportunities. Kirill Kaprizov leads Minnesota with 45 goals, Quinn Hughes has 48 assists and Matt Boldy has 254 shots on goal. Defensively, the Minnesota Wild are allowing 2.87 goals per game and are killing 79.8 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Filip Gustavsson has allowed 133 goals on 1,377 shots faced, and Jesper Wallstedt has given up 87 goals on 1,020 shots.

Dallas Stars Betting Preview

The Dallas Stars recently beat the Maple Leafs and Sabres. The Stars have made the playoffs in each of the last 5 years. The Stars have won 5 straight games.

The Dallas Stars are averaging 3.33 goals per game and are scoring on 28.6 percent of their power play opportunities. Jason Robertson leads Dallas with 45 goals, Mikko Rantanen has 55 assists, and Wyatt Johnston has 206 shots on goal. Defensively, the Dallas Stars are allowing 2.71 goals per game and are killing 80.3 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Jake Oettinger has allowed 138 goals on 1,372 shots faced, while Casey DeSmith has given up 71 goals on 760 shots.

Why the Dallas Stars will win

• The home team has won each of the last six games between the Wild and Stars.
• The Wild have lost five of their last six Game 1s of a Western Conference First Round series.
• The home team has covered the puck line in five of the last six games between the Wild and Stars.
• The Wild have failed to cover the puck line in seven of their last nine road games.
• The Wild have lost the second period in each of their last five games at American Airlines Center when trailing after the first period.

Why the Minnesota Wild will win

• The Stars have lost four of their last five games as home favorites following a shootout win.
• The Wild have won three of their last four games as underdogs against opponents on a winning streak.
• The Stars have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last 11 games as home favorites after coming off overtime.
• The Wild have covered the puck line in each of their last four games as underdogs against opponents on a winning streak.
• The Stars have lost the first period in five of their last six day games following a shootout win.

Total Goals Facts

• Each of the last four games between two teams from the Central Division has gone OVER the total goals line.
• Each of the Stars’ last four day games has gone UNDER the total goals line.
• Each of the Wild’s last four day games against Western Conference opponents has gone UNDER the total goals line.
• The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1’ market has hit in each of the Wild’s last five games as underdogs.
• The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in six of the Stars’ last seven games as favorites against Central Division opponents.

Dallas Stars Player Prop Facts

• Wyatt Johnston has scored a goal in each of the Stars’ last four games against the Wild at American Airlines Center.
• Mikko Rantanen has recorded an assist in each of his last six appearances with the Stars as favorites against Western Conference opponents.
• Jason Robertson has scored three goals against the Wild this season—equal to the most against any opponent.

Minnesota Wild Player Prop Facts

• Kirill Kaprizov has scored at least one goal in four of his last five appearances with the Wild as underdogs against Western Conference opponents.
• Quinn Hughes has recorded at least one assist in 11 of his last 12 appearances with the Wild as underdogs.
• Marcus Johansson has scored two goals against the Stars this season—equal to the most against any opponent.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Dallas Stars are one of seven teams to rank in the top 10 for both goals scored and goals conceded per game this season.
• The Dallas Stars rank 1st in the league for power play goals this season (71).
• The Minnesota Wild are one of seven teams to rank in the top 10 for both goals scored and goals conceded per game this season.
• The Minnesota Wild rank 2nd in the league in save percentage this season (.909).

Minnesota Wild vs Dallas Stars Prediction

The Wild have been the same team regardless of where the game is played so there’s some comfort on the road. Also, despite the Stars finishing the regular season with five straight wins, they had plenty of hiccups over the last month. The Stars will be without Roope Hintz, and Miro Heiskanen is dealing with a lower body issue. This is a great chance for the Wild to draw first blood and flip this series in their favor. While I’m not writing off the Stars, the value is with the Wild and the plus money.

Randy Chambers's Pick: Minnesota Wild