Minnesota Wild-Dallas Stars: NHL Playoff Watch
Anytime the Dallas Stars and the Minnesota Wild face-off, it's a reminder of when the North Stars relocated from Minnesota to Texas, and all of the anger about that decision for years to come among residents of the State of Hockey. Fun fact: That franchise has now played more regular-season games as the Dallas Stars than the Minnesota North Stars.
In other words, there is some additional heat for the intradivisional clash between the two clubs Thursday night (8 p.m. ET on ESPN). And oh yeah, both teams also have their sights set on the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs.
As for the Stars, they enter Thursday night's matchup as the West's second wild card, three points ahead of the Vegas Golden Knights (with one game in hand), and one point behind the Nashville Predators for the first wild-card spot.
Current playoff matchups
Eastern Conference
A1 Florida Panthers vs. WC2 Washington Capitals
A2 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. A3 Tampa Bay Lightning
M1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. WC1 Boston Bruins
M2 New York Rangers vs. M3 Pittsburgh Penguins
Western Conference
C1 Colorado Avalanche vs. WC2 Dallas Stars
C2 Minnesota Wild vs. C3 St. Louis Blues
P1 Calgary Flames vs. WC1 Nashville Predators
P2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Los Angeles Kings
Ottawa Senators at Boston Bruins, 7 p.m.
St. Louis Blues at Buffalo Sabres, 7 p.m.
Washington Capitals at Toronto Maple Leafs, 7 p.m.
Anaheim Ducks at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7 p.m.
New York Islanders at Pittsburgh Penguins, 7 p.m.
Detroit Red Wings at Carolina Hurricanes, 7 p.m. (ESPN+)
Edmonton Oilers at Nashville Predators, 8 p.m.
Minnesota Wild at Dallas Stars, 8 p.m. (ESPN)
San Jose Sharks at Chicago Blackhawks, 8:30 p.m.
New Jersey Devils at Colorado Avalanche, 9 p.m.
Vegas Golden Knights at Calgary Flames, 9 p.m.
Arizona Coyotes at Vancouver Canucks, 10 p.m.