Dallas Stars vs. Minnesota Wild Game 3 Preview, Picks & Odds for Wednesday, April 22, 2026

By Kody Malstrom | Apr 21, 2026, 9:26pm

After losing in game two, Wild fans can’t help but wonder how they let it slip away from them, outplaying Dallas on both sides of the ice by beating them in Expected Goals 3.29-3.09. Jesper Wallstedt put together an uncharacteristically poor performance, finishing the contest with -0.47 Goals Saved Above Expected.

Heading into game three, expect positive regression to swing back towards Minnesota’s way by bottling up a Stars front line who continues to fall down the board in Expected Goals For. With Dallas incapable of pressuring their net, the Wild will be able to reduce the amount of variance in their favor, increasing their chances of taking back the lead.

Dallas Stars vs. Minnesota Wild Betting Analysis

After a slow start to the year, the Minnesota Wild were able to get hot at just the right time, skating into the top-15 in Expected Goals For and in Expected Goals Against in All Situations. Their resurgence on offense helped turn them into a well rounded contender, making it easier for them to avoid playing in highly volatile contests to help rattle off a run in the playoffs.

While the Wild have been able to round back into competitive form, the Stars are currently dealing with some harsh regression, slipping into the bottom half of the board in Expected Goals For. Their lack of depth outside of their top line makes it hard for them to pressure the net for the full duration of the contest, making them prone to falling into a prolonged scoring lull.

To make matters even worse for the Stars, Jesper Wallstedt has been a steady source of production for the Wild, averaging 2.61 Goals Against per game and a .916 Save Percentage throughout the regular season. Even if Wallstedt continues to struggle after his performance in game two, Filip Gustavsson is more than capable of anchoring their net, conceding just 2.69 Goals Against per game.

Fortunately for the Stars, their back line is able to mask their struggles on offense, fielding a defense who ranks near the top of the board in Expected Goals Against in All Situations. By smothering the Wild’s shot attempts, the Stars can hold them off the scoreboard, keeping it close enough for them to be competitive.

With both back lines firing on all cylinders, the margins for victory in game three will be narrow. Especially with Wallstedt and Jake Oettinger neutralizing each other’s scoring opportunities, turning the contest into a low scoring affair. If the full game total drops down to 5.5, then reduce the size of your wager.

Dallas Stars vs. Minnesota Wild Best Bet, Pick & Prediction

Best Bet: Under 6 (-110)
Score Prediction: Wild 3, Stars 2

Dallas Stars vs. Minnesota Wild Game Odds

Dallas Stars vs. Minnesota Wild Game Information

Date: Wednesday, April 22, 2026
Time: 9:40 p.m. ET
Network: TNT
Location: Saint Paul, Minnesota
Venue: Grand Casino Arena – 6 goals per game; 19-20-2 O/U
Series Score: Tied 1-1

Dallas Stars vs. Minnesota Wild Betting Resources

Dallas Stars vs. Minnesota Wild Key Players

Dallas Stars

Jason Robertson – Last Game: (1 Goal, 0 Assists, 5 Shots on Goal)
Wyatt Johnston – Last Game: (2 Goals, 0 Assists, 6 Shots on Goal)
Jake Oettinger – Last Game: (2 Goals Against, 28 Saves)

Minnesota Wild

Kirill Kaprizov – Last Game: (0 Goals, 1 Assist, 2 Shots on Goal)
Matt Boldy – Last Game: (0 Goals, 0 Assists, 5 Shots on Goal)
Jesper Wallstedt – Last Game: (3 Goals Against, 28 Saves)

Photo Credit: AP/Tony Gutierrez

Kody Malstrom

Kody is a professional sports bettor and sports betting journalist with eight years of experience in the industry. He covers a wide range of sports, including NFL, NCAAF, NBA, NCAAB, NHL, MLB, and UFC. What started as a side gig has turned into a full time job, spending a majority of his time staring at odds screens and market movement. When away from the computer, Kody enjoys spending his time outdoors relaxing at the beach or golfing with friends.