{"url":"https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7173619/2026/04/06/wild-playoffs-burning-questions-stars/?source=emp_shared_article","title":"Wild's 5 burning playoff questions vs. Stars","domain":"nytimes.com","imageUrl":"https://images.pexels.com/photos/3159812/pexels-photo-3159812.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&h=650&w=940","pexelsSearchTerm":"Minnesota Wild hockey","category":"Sports","language":"en","slug":"b2ede8ff","id":"b2ede8ff-707e-4ea2-986a-d625c5ed386f","description":"The Minnesota Wild prepare for playoffs as No. 3 seed in Central Division, likely facing Dallas Stars first round.","summary":"## TL;DR\n- The Minnesota Wild prepare for playoffs as No. 3 seed in Central Division, likely facing Dallas Stars first round.\n- Goaltending duo Filip Gustavsson and Jesper Wallstedt leads league with .906 save percentage; Gustavsson expected to start Game 1.\n- Coach John Hynes tweaks defense pairings and bottom-six forwards while chasing home ice in final five games.\n\n## The story at a glance\nThe Minnesota Wild have locked the No. 3 spot in the Central Division and focus on lineup tweaks ahead of a probable first-round series against the Dallas Stars. Reporters Joe Smith and Michael Russo outline five burning questions on goaltending, defense pairings with Quinn Hughes, bottom-six forwards, splitting Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy, and pursuing home ice. This comes with five regular-season games left, including a key matchup Thursday against Dallas.[[1]](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7173619/2026/04/06/wild-playoffs-burning-questions-stars/?source=emp_shared_article)[[2]](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7173619/2026/04/06/wild-playoffs-burning-questions-stars)\n\n## Key points\n- Wild goaltending ranks fourth in goals-against average (**2.83**) and first in save percentage (**.906**); Gustavsson (**2.56 GAA, .909 SV%**) likely starts over Wallstedt (**2.67 GAA, .913 SV%**) due to playoff experience.\n- Quinn Hughes pairs best metrics with Brock Faber (**54.15 Corsi-for%**), but coach eyes Jonas Brodin-Jared Spurgeon as shutdown duo; Brodin-Spurgeon allowed just four inner-slot shots in recent minutes.\n- Bottom-six fluid after trades for Michael McCarron, Bobby Brink, Nick Foligno; Danila Yurov adds speed but weak faceoffs (**39.1%**); Nico Sturm, Robby Fabbri likely scratched.\n- Kaprizov and Boldy split this year after last playoffs' slow finish; current lines feature Ryan Hartman with Kaprizov-Mats Zuccarello, Joel Eriksson Ek with Boldy-Marcus Johansson.\n- Two points behind Stars for home ice; Wild strong at home historically (**26-15-5** regular season vs. Dallas) but may rest stars like Kaprizov, Boldy, Hughes.\n\n## Details and context\nWild added depth at deadline and used strict goalie rotation all season, fueling their strong defensive stats. Injuries hit Zach Bogosian; college free agent could debut but ineligible for playoffs; Charlie Stramel out with ankle issue.\n\nLineup experiments continue: possible third lines like Vladimir Tarasenko-Yurov-Brink; fourth with Marcus Foligno-McCarron-Yakov Trenin (**390 hits**). Tarasenko has **22 goals** this year.\n\nWild went 2-1 vs. Stars this season, both wins at home; they struggle in Dallas (**13-26-8** regular season). Coach Hynes stresses playing simple without over-stressing home ice chase.[[1]](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7173619/2026/04/06/wild-playoffs-burning-questions-stars/?source=emp_shared_article)\n\n## Key quotes\n- Jesper Wallstedt: “It’s hard... I’ve never been in the Stanley Cup playoffs.”[[1]](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7173619/2026/04/06/wild-playoffs-burning-questions-stars/?source=emp_shared_article)\n- Matt Boldy: “It’s just playing simple... stuff opens up.”[[1]](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7173619/2026/04/06/wild-playoffs-burning-questions-stars/?source=emp_shared_article)\n\n## Why it matters\nA deep playoff run ends Wild's first-round exits since 2015 and tests new additions like Quinn Hughes against Central rivals. Fans and roster see home ice and lineup fits as edges in grueling Stars series; depth helps manage injuries. Watch final games and Hynes' Game 1 choices, as rotations could shift based on early results.","hashtags":["#nhl","#wild","#stars","#playoffs","#minnesota","#dallas"],"sources":[{"url":"https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7173619/2026/04/06/wild-playoffs-burning-questions-stars/?source=emp_shared_article","title":"Original article"},{"url":"https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7173619/2026/04/06/wild-playoffs-burning-questions-stars","title":""}],"viewCount":2,"publishedAt":"2026-04-06T14:21:56.231Z"}