NHL Playoffs: Dallas Stars vs. Minnesota Wild complete TV schedule

Complete TV schedule for No. 1 seed Dallas vs. Central division for Minnesota.

The Dallas Stars vs. Minnesota Wild series is actually the most mismatched Western Conference matchup for so many reasons, which can be summed up with the face that the Stars finished 22 points ahead of the Wild, who all but limped into the playoffs with five straight losses.

After winning the Central Division, arguably the most competitive contest in the league, the Stars certainly have the resume of champions. Dallas came in second-place in the league, yet led the NHL with 265 goals—17 more than the Presidents’ Cup winner the Washington Capitals.

That being said, the Stars’ offense is the key to Dallas’ success. They had three players with at least 30 goals—becoming the first team to do so since the 2011-12 Devils. Captain Jamie Benn is the undisputed MVP, scoring a career-high 41 goals this season.

Fellow forwards Jason Spezza (33 goals), Patrick Sharp (20) and Cody Eakin (16) will certainly contribute to Dallas’s momentum, producing a powerhouse that the Wild will have a difficult time conquering. Add the possibility of Tyler Seguin’s long-anticipated return from injury, and the Stars will be a true contender for the Cup. The Stars’ only apparent Achilles heel is its goaltending—Kari Lehtonen and Antii Niemi have failed to play to the caliber of the rest of the team, producing low save percentages of .906 and .905, respectively.

The Wild enter as a true underdog in the series, led by players who are continually inconsistent. Left winger Zach Parise had just seven goals in 18 games since the beginning of March after starting off the season strong. Center Erik Haula remained strong in March, with six goals and six assists, but he failed dropped it all in April by failing to produce a single point.

Minnesota’s goaltending hasn’t been reliable either. Devan Dubnyk played decently at the start, going 14-11-1 with a .912 save percentage. Even through March he held a .927 save percentage. April’s four consecutive losses, however, dropped him to a sorry .886 save percentage. Dallas’s offense, which placed third in the league

Dallas’s offense, which placed third in the league in shots per game, is certainly going to give Dubnyk one of the toughest series of his career.

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Here’s the schedule for the Stars vs. Wild series so you know where and when to catch the postseason action:

Game 1, Thursday: Minnesota at Dallas, 9:30 p.m., NBC Sports Network.

Game 2, Saturday: Minnesota at Dallas, 8 p.m., NBC Sports Network.

Game 3, April 18: Dallas at Minnesota, 8:30 p.m., NBC.

Game 4, April 20: Dallas at Minnesota, 9:30 p.m., NBC Sports Network.

x-Game 5, April 22: Minnesota at Dallas, TBD

x-Game 6, April 24: Dallas at Minnesota, TBD

x-Game 7, April 26: Minnesota at Dallas, TBD

For more coverage of the NHL Playoffs, make sure to check out our NHL hub page.