DALLAS — The postseason opened with a jolt for the Dallas Stars, and not the kind they were looking for.
Despite a brief spark from Jason Robertson, Dallas never found its footing in a lopsided Game 1 loss to the Minnesota Wild, continuing a troubling trend of slow playoff starts.
Robertson provided one of the few bright spots, netting a power-play goal — the eighth of his playoff career — moving him into a tie for 11th in franchise history. The tally also extended his postseason point streak against Minnesota to four games. In seven career playoff appearances versus the Wild, Robertson has now compiled eight points (three goals, five assists).
Miro Heiskanen, returning to the lineup, contributed with an assist on Robertson’s goal. The defenseman now has seven assists in seven career postseason games against Minnesota, continuing to serve as a steady presence on the blue line even after time away.
Still, the night belonged to Minnesota.
Dallas struggled to match the Wild’s urgency, particularly in the second period, where the game unraveled. Head coach Glen Gulutzan pointed to a lack of competitiveness in key moments rather than systemic breakdowns.
“It didn’t look like a playoff game from our side,” Gulutzan said. “When you’re not winning races or puck battles, everything tilts the wrong way. That’s where the game got away from us.”
The Stars, who have now dropped nine of their last 11 Game 1s in playoff series, found themselves consistently on the back foot as Minnesota capitalized on loose pucks and second chances.
Goaltender Jake Oettinger didn’t shy away from the performance.
“It’s not acceptable,” Oettinger said. “We’ve been through this before, so we know the response that’s needed. But there’s no excuse — we all have to be better, starting with me.”
While the result was decisive, Dallas saw a few individual efforts worth noting. Rookie Justin Hryckowian made his playoff debut and brought physicality, recording five hits while winning seven of nine faceoffs in just over 13 minutes of ice time.
Nils Lundkvist logged a playoff career-high 17:55, while Mavrik Bourque matched the team lead with five hits — the most he’s recorded in any NHL game.
On the other side, Mikko Rantanen reached a milestone, skating in his 100th career Stanley Cup Playoff game, becoming just the 10th Finnish player in NHL history to hit that mark.
For Dallas, the formula moving forward is clear — and urgent.
Heiskanen emphasized the need for sharper execution and more assertiveness. “They made plays, but we gave them too much time,” he said. “We have to be more aggressive and cleaner with everything.”
Game 1 may be in the rearview, but the message inside the Stars’ locker room is already shifting toward response. If history is any indication, Dallas has been here before.
What matters now is what comes next.
