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Wild vs. Stars prediction: Dallas favored to win Thursday's NHL matchup [4/9/2026]
Updated: | First published:
Written by Jason Bevilacqua, Head of Content and Communities
Get Minnesota Wild vs Dallas Stars predictions for NHL Thursday.
The Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild will lock horns in the NHL at American Airlines Center on Thursday, with puck drop at 9:00 PM ET.
Based on the latest simulation results, Dimers' proven NHL model gives the Stars a slight edge with a 53% win probability over the Wild.
This article offers an expanded analysis of Thursday's Wild vs. Stars matchup, including projected goal scorers, best bets and player prop picks.
Wild vs. Stars prediction: Who will win and cover?
Using innovative machine learning and statistical analysis, we have simulated the result of Thursday's NHL game between the Wild and Stars, forming part of our NHL predictions coverage.
Our famous predictive model currently gives the Stars a 53% chance of defeating the Wild.
According to our model, the Wild (+1.5) have a 68% chance of covering the puck line, while the over/under total of six goals has an equal 50-50 chance of hitting.
Wild vs. Stars odds
We have researched the best NHL odds in America for this game, which are listed here:
| Bet Type | Wild | Stars |
|---|---|---|
| Puck Line | +1.5 (-245) | -1.5 (+205) |
| Moneyline | +105 | -120 |
| Total | o6 (-115) | u6 (-105) |
All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
Wild vs. Stars picks and best bet
After matching our probabilities against the best current odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:
| Bet Type | Pick | Bet Now |
|---|---|---|
| Puck Line | Stars -1.5 | +205 |
| Moneyline | Stars | -120 |
| Total | Under 6 | -105 |
According to our NHL best bets, the top play to make on this game is Stars -1.5 at the spread.
These picks are based on our probabilities matched against the implied probabilities from the sportsbook odds.
Wild vs. Stars player props
Who will score a goal in Wild vs. Stars?
According to our model, Wyatt Johnston is most likely to score an anytime goal in Wild vs. Stars.
Our projections give Johnston a 40.3% chance of scoring a goal at American Airlines Center, while the star is an 8.7% chance of netting the first goal the game.
Anytime goal scorer predictions
Minnesota Wild
| Player | Anytime Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Kirill Kaprizov | 39.4% |
| Matt Boldy | 26.9% |
| Joel Ek | 22.9% |
| Ryan Hartman | 19.8% |
| Mats Zuccarello | 19.7% |
Dallas Stars
| Player | Anytime Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Wyatt Johnston | 40.3% |
| Jason Robertson | 38.1% |
| Mikko Rantanen | 37.1% |
| Matt Duchene | 24.1% |
| Mavrik Bourque | 21.8% |
First goal scorer predictions
Minnesota Wild
| Player | First Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Kirill Kaprizov | 8.0% |
| Matt Boldy | 5.1% |
| Joel Ek | 4.7% |
| Mats Zuccarello | 3.4% |
| Vladimir Tarasenko | 3.3% |
Dallas Stars
| Player | First Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Wyatt Johnston | 8.7% |
| Jason Robertson | 7.4% |
| Mikko Rantanen | 7.1% |
| Matt Duchene | 4.5% |
| Mavrik Bourque | 4.0% |
Wild vs. Stars game-day updates and essential details
Thursday's matchup between the Stars and Wild at American Airlines Center is scheduled to commence at 9:00 PM ET.
- Who: Minnesota Wild vs. Dallas Stars
- Date: Thursday, April 9, 2026
- Time: 9:00 PM ET/6:00PM PT
- Venue: American Airlines Center
Conclusion
We predict the Stars, with a 53% win probability, will likely beat the Wild in Thursday's NHL matchup.
Additional tools and information for betting safely can be found in our Responsible Gambling hub.
Jason Bevilacqua, an expert in MLB, NHL, NBA, MLS, and NFL, delivers game previews, best bets, and props. Since 2020, as Head of Social and Community at Dimers, he has contributed insightful articles utilizing data-driven models and simulations.
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