The Dallas Stars (20-13-0) will welcome the Minnesota Wild (21-10-4) to the American Airlines Center on Friday night in what promises to be a pivotal Central Division matchup with significant playoff implications.
Both teams enter the contest showing contrasting recent form, with the Stars having won three of their last five games while the Wild have struggled through a stretch that saw them lose four of their previous five matchups.
The Stars' offensive prowess, averaging 3.15 goals per game, will be tested against Minnesota's stingy defense that ranks sixth in the league, allowing just 2.69 goals per contest.
Key players to watch include Minnesota's Kirill Kaprizov, who leads his team with 50 points from 23 goals and 27 assists, while Dallas counters with Matt Duchene's impressive 30-point campaign thus far.
The historical context adds another layer of intrigue, as Dallas has dominated recent meetings, winning seven straight games against Minnesota since April 2023.
However, the Wild's exceptional road record of 12-3-3 this season suggests this Central Division clash could prove more competitive than recent history might indicate.
As these division rivals prepare to face off in a game that could significantly impact the Central Division standings, fans and analysts alike will be watching to see if the Stars can maintain their winning streak against Minnesota or if the Wild can finally break through against their recent nemesis.
Dallas Stars vs. Minnesota Wild: who will win?
For tonight's Dallas Stars vs Minnesota Wild matchup, our predictive model gives the Stars a 58.75% chance of defeating the Wild.
Pre-game probabilities
Dallas Stars
Moneyline
Win %
58.75%
41.25%
Minnesota Wild
Dallas Stars: 58.75% win probability
- Superior defensive efficiency (85 goals against in 33 games)
- Strong goal differential (+20 goals for/against ratio)
- Recent momentum (WLLWW in last 5 games)
Minnesota Wild: 41.25% win probability
- Poor recent form (WLLLL in last 5 games)
- Defensive struggles (96 goals against in 35 games)
- Negative goal differential (104 goals for vs 96 against)
At Sporting Post, our unique prediction model combines insights from top NHL experts. Instead of sifting through hundreds of expert analyses across the web, you can rely on our predictions to understand the market's overall sentiment. We scan trusted sources, analyzing predictions, data, and opinions, and our AI assigns a confidence level to each prediction. We then average these levels to produce an 'expert opinion' win probability—reflecting the collective intelligence of the industry's leading NHL experts..
| Dallas Stars | Minnesota Wild | |
|---|---|---|
| moneyline |
Dallas Stars vs. Minnesota Wild form
Dallas Stars vs. Minnesota Wild head to head
Dallas Stars
100%
Minnesota Wild
0%
Nov 17, 2024
Minnesota Wild
1 : 2
Dallas Stars
Sep 29, 2024
Minnesota Wild
2 : 4
Dallas Stars
Sep 26, 2024
Dallas Stars
5 : 2
Minnesota Wild
Jan 11, 2024
Dallas Stars
7 : 2
Minnesota Wild
Jan 9, 2024
Minnesota Wild
0 : 4
Dallas Stars
Nov 12, 2023
Minnesota Wild
3 : 8
Dallas Stars
