With the 2025–2026 NHL regular season winding down, the Central Division is shaping up to deliver one of the most competitive playoff races in the league.

The Minnesota Wild remain firmly in the mix near the top of the standings. However, their postseason path will likely run through one of two familiar rivals: the Colorado Avalanche or the Dallas Stars.

Both teams clinched playoff spots remarkably early in the season. Additionally, they are widely regarded as Stanley Cup favorites. Based on this season’s performance and the current standings, either matchup would present a very different challenge for Minnesota.

Minnesota Wild vs. Dallas Stars

If the playoffs started today, the Minnesota Wild would face the Dallas Stars in the first round. Dallas sits around the top of the Central Division race, keeping them within striking distance of Colorado.

The Stars have built their success on depth and special teams. Dallas has one of the strongest power plays in the league this season, converting nearly 30% of its opportunities. Players such as Jason Robertson and goaltender Jake Oettinger have been central to Dallas’ success. Robertson leads the team in goals this season, while Oettinger continues to provide steady goaltending that can steal games in tight playoff situations.

The Wild have already proven they can compete with Dallas this year. In a recent late-season Central Division showdown, the Wild defeated the Stars 2-1 in overtime, tightening the standings and showing how evenly matched the teams can be. A playoff series between these two teams would likely be tighter than one against Colorado. Both teams rely on structure, depth scoring, and goaltending, which could lead to a longer, grind-it-out series where special teams and late-game execution become crucial.

Minnesota Wild vs. Colorado Avalanche

The Avalanche are the Wild’s other potential playoff opponent. A series against the Colorado would be one of the toughest tests the Wild could face. They sit atop the Central Division and rank first in the league in points. That dominance has produced one of the NHL’s best goal differentials and solidified the Avalanche as a Stanley Cup favorite.

Much of that success comes from their elite core led by Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar. MacKinnon continues to drive Colorado’s offense and leads the team in scoring. Meanwhile, Makar remains one of the most impactful defensemen in the NHL, contributing heavily both offensively and defensively from the blue line.

For Minnesota, the key challenge in a potential playoff series would be slowing down that high-powered attack while maintaining their own scoring depth. The Wild has remained competitive in the division race with a strong record of their own, sitting close behind Colorado and Dallas in the standings with one of the better goal differentials in the Central.

This season’s head-to-head matchups suggest the series could be competitive. Earlier in the year, the two teams split games in the season series, showing that Minnesota can keep pace. Especially when playing disciplined defense and capitalizing on scoring opportunities.

However, Colorado’s advantage comes from its ability to control games offensively; they also generate shots at one of the highest rates in the league. The Avalanche have more depth in their bottom six, with stronger third and fourth lines. They pair that depth with consistently strong goaltending. If Minnesota hopes to win a playoff series against Colorado, their defensive structure and goaltending will likely be the deciding factors.

Which First-Round Playoff Matchup Favors Minnesota?

Between the two potential opponents, Dallas may present the slightly more manageable matchup for Minnesota. While the Stars are still one of the league’s best teams, their overall offensive production has not been as overwhelming as Colorado’s league-leading attack. That said, neither series would be easy. The Central Division has been one of the strongest in the NHL this season. The Avalanche, Stars, and Wild have all performed at a playoff-contending level throughout the year.

If Minnesota hopes to make a deep postseason run, they will likely need to prove they can defeat at least one of these top contenders along the way.