The Dallas Stars (21-5-5) invade Xcel Energy Center aiming to extend their scorching four-game win streak against a Minnesota Wild (16-9-5) squad that’s won two of its last three but remains hampered by injuries in the top six. Dallas, second in the Central Division with the NHL’s best road record (11-1-4), boasts elite goaltending from Jake Oettinger (.909 SV%, 2.49 GAA) and a balanced attack led by Jason Robertson’s 39 points. The Wild, clinging to third in the Central, counter with Kirill Kaprizov’s 33 points but face a Stars team that’s dominated recent head-to-heads (3-2 in last five, averaging 5.8 goals). This Central Division clash—second of four meetings—projects as a tight, low-scoring grinder, with Dallas’ structure prevailing in a 3-2 road win.
Venue Location
Xcel Energy Center (Grand Casino Arena sponsored naming), Saint Paul, Minnesota (capacity: 17,954). The Wild are 8-3-4 at home this season, holding opponents to 2.67 GPG, but have lost three of their last five against top-10 road teams like Dallas.
Puckdrop: 8:00 p.m. ET (7:00 p.m. CT). Broadcast on Victory+ (Stars), FDSNWI (Wild), and ESPN+, with radio on SportsRadio 96.7 FM/1310 AM (DAL) and KFAN 100.3 FM (MIN).
Injury Report
Both teams enter with significant absences up front and on the blue line, thinning scoring depth and forcing reliance on backups. Dallas’ forward corps takes a hit without Seguin, while Minnesota’s top-six woes (Foligno, Rossi out) exacerbate their offensive inconsistencies (2.67 GPG, 20th). Latest updates from Thursday morning skates:
| Team | Player | Position | Status | Injury | Notes |
| Stars | Adam Erne | LW | Out | Lower Body | IR since Nov. 13; 2G-1A in 14 GP. Multiple weeks sidelined. |
| Stars | Lian Bichsel | D | Out | Lower Body | IR-LT since Dec. 6; 1G-2A in 26 GP. Return targeted Jan. 27. |
| Stars | Tyler Seguin | C | Out | ACL | IR-LT since Dec. 5; 7G-10A in 27 GP. Return Dec. 27. |
| Stars | Ilya Lyubushkin | D | Out | Lower Body | Since Dec. 7; 0G-3A in 21 GP. Return Dec. 15. |
| Stars | Nils Lundkvist | D | Out | Lower Body | Since Dec. 5; 2G-5A in 20 GP. Return Dec. 15. |
| Stars | Thomas Harley | D | Out | Lower Body | Since Dec. 5; 3G-7A in 25 GP. Return Dec. 15. |
| Stars | Jason Robertson | LW | Available | None | Full practice; team-high 19G-20A (39 points). |
| Stars | Jake Oettinger | G | Available | None | Starts; 14-4-2, 2.49 GAA. |
| Wild | Marcus Foligno | LW | Out | Lower Body | IR since Nov. 28; 4G-5A in 20 GP. Week-to-week. |
| Wild | Marco Rossi | C | Out | Lower Body | IR since Dec. 2; 5G-8A in 18 GP. Return Dec. 11 (questionable). |
| Wild | Vinnie Hinostroza | C | Out | Undisclosed | IR since Nov. 24; 2G-3A in 15 GP. Return Dec. 27. |
| Wild | Jacob Middleton | D | Day-to-Day | Undisclosed | Exited Dec. 8 game; 1G-6A in 25 GP. Monitored. |
| Wild | Mats Zuccarello | RW | Day-to-Day | Undisclosed | Exited Dec. 8; 6G-15A in 28 GP. Likely plays limited. |
| Wild | Kirill Kaprizov | LW | Available | None | Full go; 18G-15A (33 points). |
| Wild | Filip Gustavsson | G | Available | None | Starts; 8-6-2, 2.67 GAA. |
Minnesota’s absences drop their forward production (24th in goals/game without Foligno/Rossi), while Dallas’ D depth (Harley, Lundkvist out) tests Heiskanen-Sekera pairing.
Player Matchups
These star-driven battles could swing momentum, with Dallas’ transition speed testing Minnesota’s forecheck:
Stars LW Jason Robertson vs. Wild D Brock Faber
Robertson (19G-20A, 39 points; 11 PPG) exploits edges with elite finishing, facing Faber’s shutdown (2G-12A, +12 rating). Robertson has 5 points in last three vs. MIN; Faber’s gap control limits wingers to 1.8 SOG/game. If Robertson tops 3 shots, Dallas controls possession.
Wild LW Kirill Kaprizov vs. Stars D Miro Heiskanen
Kaprizov (18G-15A, 33 points) thrives on rushes (0% shot attempt share allowed), drawing Heiskanen’s puck-moving (5G-18A). Kaprizov has 7 goals in last six home; Heiskanen’s mobility (top-10 in TOI) has held snipers under 2 points in four of seven.
Stars C Roope Hintz vs. Wild C Joel Eriksson Ek
Hintz (12G-14A) dominates draws (52% win rate) in transition, matched against Eriksson Ek’s two-way grit (9G-11A, 54% FO). Hintz scored vs. MIN in October; Eriksson Ek’s PK role (team-high 2:15 SH TOI) neutralizes cycles.
Wild G Filip Gustavsson vs. Stars Top Line (Robertson-Hintz-Johnston)
Gustavsson (2.67 GAA, .908 SV%) faces DAL’s unit (1.7 goals/game), generating 12.4 SA/game. He’s .936 in last three home starts; Stars’ pressure (33.2 SOG/G) could force 30+ shots.
Stars G Jake Oettinger vs. Wild RW Matt Boldy
Oettinger (2.49 GAA) battles Boldy’s mid-range (16G-16A); Boldy has 4 goals in last five. Oettinger’s .909 SV% shines vs. top-10 attacks, limiting finishers to 8% conversion.
Dallas’ depth favors them, but Kaprizov’s dynamism keeps it close.
Team Records
Dallas Stars: 21-5-5 (2nd in Central Division)
11-1-4 on road, averaging 3.41 GPG (4th) while allowing 2.50 (3rd). PP 23.9% (4th), PK 82.8% (5th); +91 goal differential, 18-13 ATS.
Minnesota Wild: 16-9-5 (3rd in Central Division)
8-3-4 at home, averaging 2.67 GPG (20th) and allowing 2.67 (7th). PP 18.8% (18th), PK 80.6% (12th); +49 goal differential, 15-15 ATS.
Dallas holds the season series tiebreaker (1-0 after 5-2 win Oct. 14).
Recent Team Forms
Dallas is on fire with four straight wins (and 4-0-1 in last five), outscoring foes 15-8 en route to the NHL’s best road mark. Minnesota has stabilized with a 2-2-1 stretch over their last five, leaning on home defense but scoring just 2.0 GPG during.
| Stars Last 5 Games | Date | Opponent | Result | Key Stats |
| @ WPG | Dec 9 | Away | W 4-3 | Oettinger 28/31 saves; Robertson 1G-1A, 1/3 PP. |
| vs. PIT | Dec 7 | Home | W 3-2 SO | DeSmith 29/31; Johnston GWG in SO, outshot 32-28. |
| vs. SJS | Dec 5 | Home | W 4-1 | Oettinger 24/25; Hintz 2G, dominant 35-22 shots. |
| vs. NJD | Dec 3 | Home | W 3-0 | Oettinger shutout (26/26); 0/2 PP, possession edge. |
| @ NYR | Dec 2 | Away | L 3-2 OT | DeSmith .913 SV%; Close loss, 1/4 PP. |
Form Notes: 4-0-1, outscored 17-9. Road 3-0 (+2.3 margin); Oettinger 3-0-0, .950 SV% last three.
| Wild Last 5 Games | Date | Opponent | Result | Key Stats |
| @ SEA | Dec 8 | Away | W 4-1 | Gustavsson 29/30; Kaprizov 1G-1A, 0/2 PP. |
| @ VAN | Dec 6 | Away | L 2-4 | Wallstedt .875 SV%; Boldy 1G, outshot 30-20. |
| @ CGY | Dec 4 | Away | L 1-4 | Gustavsson .882 SV%; 0/5 PP, defensive lapses. |
| @ EDM | Dec 2 | Away | W 1-0 | Wallstedt shutout (33/33); Eriksson Ek GWG. |
| vs. BUF | Nov 29 | Home | L 2-3 SO | Gustavsson .929 SV%; Shootout loss, 0/3 PP. |
Form Notes: 2-3, outscored 10-12. Road 2-2 (+0.5 margin); Wallstedt 2-1-0, .936 SV% last three.
Series History
All-time, Dallas leads 70-47 in 118 meetings (regular season: 63-38-1-5 for Stars), with a 25-24-0-3 road record in St. Paul. The Stars have won three of the last five (average 5.8 goals/game), including a 5-2 home win for Minnesota on Oct. 14, 2025. In Minnesota, the Wild hold a slight 41-18 edge historically, but Dallas took the last two visits (4-1 on Mar. 27, 3-2 on Feb. 22). Overs have hit in seven of 10 (average 6.0 goals), driven by Central speed. This is the second of four meetings this season.
Betting Trends
Moneyline: 70% bets/76% handle on Stars (public riding 8-1 SU run). Stars 9-2 SU last 11; Wild 4-6 SU as home dogs.
Puck Line: 62% bets on Wild +1.5 (value), 65% handle on Stars -1.5 amid DAL’s 7-3 road cover streak. Wild 8-5 ATS home.
Total: 64% bets on Over 5.5 (80% handle), as seven of 10 series over and combined 5.91 GPG. Under in four of Stars’ last five.
Key Trends: Stars 8-1 SU last nine overall; Wild 5-2 ATS last seven vs. Central.
Game Odds
Dallas Stars – 135
Minnesota Wild 5.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Wednesday, December 10, 2025
