![\"Miro](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/NHL-Minnesota-Wild-at-Dallas-Stars-27325859-scaled-e1775835774727.jpg\")
Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCredit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Get this, only three teams in the Western Conference have reached the 100 point mark<\/a> so far this season, the Minnesota Wild (102), Colorado Avalanche (114) and Dallas Stars (106). In fact, there isn\u2019t another squad in the West who\u2019s achieved more than 90 points so far this season.<\/p>\n Yet, because of a weird playoff format that was built to focus more on first round divisional rivalries than competitive balance, Minnesota is being stripped of the home-ice advantage they earned during the regular season.<\/p>\n Minnesota Wild @ Dallas Stars \u2013 NHL Playoffs (Rd. 1)<\/p>\n Instead, they will almost certainly be on the road, in Dallas, to open the 2026 NHL Playoffs, while home ice in the first round is ultimately awarded to whichever two teams out of the Pacific<\/a> \u2014 between the Oilers (90 points), Knights (89 points) and Ducks (89 points) \u2014 finish on top of the Pacific Division.<\/p>\n One week until the end of the regular season \ud83d\udc40 pic.twitter.com\/mhPu83lwlr<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 9, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n But as unfortunate as Minnesota\u2019s first round fate might be, the Wild must focus on things they can control. No. 1 on that list is fixing Filip Gustavsson, who gave up FIVE goals<\/a> Thursday night to the Stars, in a 5-4 road loss the Wild had to have to realistically keep their home-ice hopes alive.<\/p>\n If Gus Bus continues to crumble down the stretch, head coach John Hynes and president of hockey operations Bill Guerin may have to replace him with rookie goaltender Jesper Wallstedt.<\/p>\n Stars suddenly have major Miro Heiskanen issue on blue line<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Dallas has their own problems to deal with. Not only did Minnesota significantly outplay the Stars last night<\/a> at American Airlines Arena, despite their win, but they also lost star defenseman Miro Heiskanen to a \u201clower-body injury,\u201d following a hit against the boards by Ryan Hartman.<\/p>\n A look at the hit on Miro Heiskanen that forced the Stars defenseman out of the game. \ud83d\ude2c<\/p>\n (Via @espn<\/a> | #TexasHockey<\/a>) pic.twitter.com\/ty3JerEZa9<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 SportsDay Stars (@dmn_stars) April 10, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n Related: MN Wild Sign Charlie Stramel; Do NOT Burn Year<\/a><\/p>\n Losing Heiskanen would be a devastating loss for the Dallas Stars, who rely on their 26-year-old defenseman<\/a> to play 25:28 minutes per game, and who\u2019s tallied 63 points this season on 63 assists and 9 goals.<\/p>\n After the game, the vibes surrounding Heiskanen\u2019s injury were not at all upbeat. In his postgame presser, Stars head coach Glen Gulutzan told reporters that his star defenseman will be re-evaluated Friday, but that they are not expecting him to be available Saturday.<\/p>\n Gulutzan says Heiskanen will be evaluated tomorrow.<\/p>\n “Just looking at it now, I wouldn’t think he’ll be a player on Saturday, but we won’t know until we get him looked at.” <\/p>\n “We could get great news tomorrow, or we could get bad news. I’m not sure where we’re gonna be.”<\/p>\n \u2014 Robert Tiffin (@RobertTiffin) April 10, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n Dallas\u2019 special teams would be in trouble without Heiskanen as well. In 2025-26, the former No. 3 overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft has played over 265 minutes<\/a> this year on the power play (2 goals, 26 assists<\/a>) AND another 239 minutes on the penalty kill.<\/p>\n Unless the Stars get really good news later today, the Miro Heiskanen\u2019s injury could be the No. 1 storyline to watch entering the Wild vs Stars playoff series next week.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMentioned in this article: Dallas Stars<\/a> injury updates<\/a> Miro Heiskanen<\/a> <\/p>\n More About:Minnesota Wild<\/a><\/p>\n Add MinnesotaSportsFan as a preferred source on Google. \t\t\t![\"Add](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/google_preferred_source_badge.png\"){kind=icon}
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