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Wild vs. Stars prediction: Dallas favored to win Saturday's NHL matchup [4/18/2026]
Updated: | First published:
Written by Jason Bevilacqua, Head of Content and Communities
Get Minnesota Wild vs Dallas Stars predictions for NHL Saturday.
The Dallas Stars will square off with the Minnesota Wild in the 2026 NHL Playoffs at American Airlines Center on Saturday, commencing at 5:30 PM ET.
Based on updated simulations, Dimers' proven NHL model projects the Stars as the most likely winner of the Wild vs. Stars game.
This article offers a closer look at Saturday's matchup, including projected goal scorers, best bets and player prop picks.
Wild vs. Stars prediction: Who will win and cover?
Using powerful machine learning and statistical analysis, we have simulated the outcome of Saturday's NHL Playoffs matchup between the Wild and Stars, forming part of our NHL predictions coverage.
Our leading predictive model gives the Stars a 55% chance of defeating the Wild.
According to our model, the Wild (+1.5) have a 68% chance of covering the puck line, while the 5.5-goal over/under has a 55% chance of going over.
Wild vs. Stars odds
We have researched the best NHL odds in America for this game, which are listed here:
| Bet Type | Wild | Stars |
|---|---|---|
| Puck Line | +1.5 (-235) | -1.5 (+200) |
| Moneyline | +105 | -125 |
| Total | o5.5 (+110) | u5.5 (+108) |
All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
Wild vs. Stars picks and best bet
After matching our predictions against the best current odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:
| Bet Type | Pick | Bet Now |
|---|---|---|
| Puck Line | Stars -1.5 | +200 |
| Moneyline | Stars | -125 |
| Total | Over 5.5 | +110 |
According to our best NHL bets, the top play to make on this game is Over 5.5 total goals.
These picks are based on our probabilities matched against the implied probabilities from the sportsbook odds.
Wild vs. Stars player props
Who will score a goal in Wild vs. Stars?
According to our model, Kirill Kaprizov is most likely to score an anytime goal in Wild vs. Stars.
Our projections give Kaprizov a 38.2% chance of scoring a goal at American Airlines Center, while the star is an 8.0% chance of netting the first goal the game.
Anytime goal scorer predictions
Minnesota Wild
| Player | Anytime Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Kirill Kaprizov | 38.2% |
| Matt Boldy | 25.5% |
| Joel Ek | 20.5% |
| Ryan Hartman | 19.5% |
| Mats Zuccarello | 19.3% |
Dallas Stars
| Player | Anytime Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Jason Robertson | 36.0% |
| Wyatt Johnston | 35.4% |
| Mikko Rantanen | 32.2% |
| Mavrik Bourque | 25.4% |
| Matt Duchene | 24.4% |
First goal scorer predictions
Minnesota Wild
| Player | First Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Kirill Kaprizov | 8.0% |
| Matt Boldy | 4.6% |
| Joel Ek | 4.1% |
| Ryan Hartman | 3.6% |
| Mats Zuccarello | 3.5% |
Dallas Stars
| Player | First Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Jason Robertson | 7.5% |
| Wyatt Johnston | 6.8% |
| Mikko Rantanen | 6.6% |
| Mavrik Bourque | 4.7% |
| Matt Duchene | 4.4% |
Wild vs. Stars game-day updates and essential details
Saturday's matchup between the Stars and Wild in the Stanley Cup Playoffs is scheduled to start at 5:30 PM ET.
- Who: Minnesota Wild vs. Dallas Stars
- Date: Saturday, April 18, 2026
- Time: 5:30 PM ET/2:30PM PT
- Venue: American Airlines Center
The Stanley Cup Playoffs is an elimination tournament in the NHL to determine the winner of the Stanley Cup.
Sixteen teams, including the Wild and Stars, reached the 2026 NHL Playoffs, which includes four rounds: the First Round, Second Round, Conference Finals and Stanley Cup Finals.
Each round is played as a best-of-seven series, with the first team to four wins progressing to the next round until a champion is crowned.
Conclusion
We predict the Stars, with a 55% win probability, will likely beat the Wild in Saturday's NHL matchup.
Additional tools and information for betting safely can be found in our Responsible Gambling hub.
Jason Bevilacqua, an expert in MLB, NHL, NBA, MLS, and NFL, delivers game previews, best bets, and props. Since 2020, as Head of Social and Community at Dimers, he has contributed insightful articles utilizing data-driven models and simulations.
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