Minnesota Wild vs Dallas Stars Picks, Prediction and Odds for Game 2

By: Kyle Kargel Published 04/20/2026, 10:02 AM ET
Wild vs Stars Game 2 prediction
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Game 2 at American Airlines Center on Monday night brings a fascinating betting puzzle as Minnesota rolls into Dallas holding a surprising 1-0 series lead after a 6-1 beatdown of the Stars in the opener. The market still leans toward Dallas as a home favorite, but with Roope Hintz sidelined again and the Wild already proving they can punish Stars mistakes, the handicap is far from straightforward. Bettors hunting more NHL picks will find this one of the most compelling playoff spots to dissect on the Monday slate.

Quick Picks and Prediction

  • Spread Pick: Minnesota Wild +1.5
  • Total Pick: Over 5.5
  • Projected Final Score: Stars 4, Wild 3

Odds and Line Movement

Dallas has hovered in the -125 to -135 range since open, with the market steadily leaning back toward the Stars as bettors bet into their home-ice advantage and Game 2 bounce-back profile. Public tickets have flooded in on Dallas throughout the morning, with 90 percent of action on the Stars at the latest snapshot. Here's the complete market picture.

Opening Odds

Matchup Moneyline Total
Minnesota Wild +105 6½ (+110) Over
Dallas Stars -125 6½ (-130) Under

Current Odds

Matchup Moneyline Total
Minnesota Wild +114 5½ (-130) Over
Dallas Stars -135 5½ (+110) Under

Line Movement - Puck Line

Date Time Minnesota Dallas Public (%)
04/18 08:29:30 PM +105 -125
04/18 08:34:15 PM +110 -130
04/18 11:33:57 PM +114 -135
04/20 09:20:55 AM +114 -135 DAL 90%, DAL 75%

Line Movement - Total

Date Time Over Under Public (%)
04/18 08:29:30 PM 6½ (+110) 6½ (-130)
04/18 08:30:15 PM 5½ (-130) 5½ (+110)
04/20 09:20:55 AM 5½ (-130) 5½ (+110) UN 71%, OV 94%

Wild vs Stars Key Matchups and Handicap

Minnesota and Dallas head into Monday's 9:30 p.m. ET Game 2 with the Wild holding a 1-0 series lead after a dominant 6-1 road win in the opener, and that result makes this matchup one of the more interesting betting puzzles on the board because the market still leans toward the Stars at home, with Dallas generally priced around -133 to -135 and the total sitting between 5.5 and 6.

The regular-season profiles say this should be close: Dallas finished 50-20-12 and slightly outscored Minnesota on a per-game basis, 3.33 goals to 3.27, while also posting the better defensive mark at 2.71 goals against per game versus 2.87 for the Wild; the Stars also carried the stronger power play at 28.6% compared with Minnesota's 25.2%, though the Wild generated more shots per game, 29.2 to 25.3.

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In Game 1, though, Minnesota completely flipped the script, jumping ahead early on Joel Eriksson Ek's power-play goal, then getting finishing from Kirill Kaprizov, Ryan Hartman, Matt Boldy, and Eriksson Ek again while holding Dallas to a single power-play marker from Jason Robertson. That matters because it reinforced the Wild's top-end scoring upside, led by Kaprizov's 89-point, 45-goal season, while also showing Dallas can be vulnerable when forced to chase the game.

Robertson remains the premier offensive weapon on the Stars side with 96 points and 45 goals, and Mikko Rantanen's 55 assists give Dallas another elite playmaker, but the Stars did not get enough from their secondary layers in the opener and now face added pressure with Roope Hintz still out for Games 1 and 2 because of a lower-body injury.

Recent form supports the idea that the Wild are live again: they have won back-to-back games overall and already beat Dallas twice in the last three meetings, while the Stars are 4-1 in their last five but have now allowed 10 goals across their last two games against Minnesota.

  • Minnesota has won back-to-back games overall and took Game 1 of this series 6-1 on the road.
  • Dallas is 4-1 in its last five but has allowed 10 goals across its last two games against Minnesota.
  • The Wild have beaten the Stars twice in the last three meetings.
  • Dallas finished the regular season 50-20-12 with the better defensive profile at 2.71 goals against per game.
  • Minnesota was slightly outscored on a per-game basis (3.27 to 3.33) but generated more shots per game (29.2 to 25.3).
  • Dallas holds the power-play edge at 28.6% compared to Minnesota's 25.2%.

MIN and DAL Key Injuries and Notes

  • Roope Hintz remains out for Games 1 and 2 with a lower-body injury.
  • Nathan Bastian is also out, further trimming Dallas forward depth.
  • Charlie Stramel is the main absence for Minnesota.
  • Kirill Kaprizov leads the Wild with 89 points and 45 goals.
  • Joel Eriksson Ek scored a power-play goal and added another in Game 1.
  • Ryan Hartman and Matt Boldy also contributed goals in the series opener.
  • Jason Robertson paces Dallas with 96 points and 45 goals and scored the Stars' lone goal on the power play in Game 1.
  • Mikko Rantanen has 55 assists as another elite playmaker for Dallas.

Wild vs Stars ATS and Total Picks

  • Against the Spread: Minnesota Wild +1.5
  • Total: Over 5.5

Wild +1.5 is the strongest angle given Minnesota's Game 1 dominance, its top-end scoring with Kaprizov and Eriksson Ek, and the cushion of a full goal and a half. The over 5.5 lean makes sense because Dallas should push harder offensively at home to even the series while Minnesota has already proven it can capitalize on Stars mistakes and special-teams breakdowns.

Final Score Prediction

  • Dallas Stars 4, Minnesota Wild 3

Expect Dallas to come out desperate and crank up the offensive pressure at home, but Minnesota's top line and power play should keep this close into the third period. Look for the Stars to narrowly even the series while the total finishes just north of the mark.

How to Bet Wild vs Stars

This Wild vs Stars Game 2 is the kind of playoff spot where shopping for the best number is essential. The total has shifted from 6½ at open down to 5½, and Dallas's moneyline has climbed from -125 to -135, so locking in the sharpest price on the puck line or over could define the value of your ticket.

If you'd rather play for free or with sweeps coins on a high-event playoff matchup like this one, social sportsbooks are a great way to participate without risking real money. For bettors who want a trusted operator with sharp NHL pricing and deep puck-line markets, grab the latest bet365 bonus code before puck drop. And if you prefer a mobile-first experience with rich NHL playoff markets including props on Kaprizov, Robertson, Rantanen, and Eriksson Ek, the current fliff promo code is another strong option to boost your bankroll heading into Monday night at American Airlines Center.

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