A Deciding Second-Period Swing
The Dallas Stars traveled to Saint Paul on Saturday, September 26, 2026, and secured a 2-1 victory over the host Minnesota Wild. The game featured three total goals, with the decisive momentum shifting in the second period. The Stars left Grand Casino Arena with a perfect record, while the Wild suffered a setback in front of a crowd of 15,645 fans.
The final score reflected a tight contest that was settled by a late-period dagger from the visitors.
Scoring Sequence and Key Contributions
Radek Faksa struck first for the away side in the first period. His wrist shot goal, assisted by Oskar Bäck and Joel Kiviranta, gave Dallas a 1-0 lead. The Wild responded in the second period when Joel Eriksson Ek tied the game at 1-1.
Eriksson Ek’s wrist shot was set up by assists from Blake Coleman and Matt Boldy. The balance tipped back to Dallas later in the same frame. Thomas Harley scored the game-winner with a wrist shot, receiving assists from Mikko Rantanen and Jamie Benn.
The score remained 2-1 for the Stars at the end of the third period, with neither team adding further goals.
Statistical Highlights
Joel Eriksson Ek was the lone point producer for the Wild, recording one goal and one point. Matt Boldy contributed one assist for Minnesota. For the Stars, Radek Faksa recorded one goal and one point.
Jamie Benn added one assist in the win. Thomas Harley, despite scoring the decisive goal, is not listed in the top performers stat lines provided, though his goal is confirmed in the scoring plays. The Stars’ performance extended their strong start to the season, while the Wild dropped to a mixed record.
Season Context and Records
This result improved the Dallas Stars’ record to 4-0-0, accumulating 8 points in the standings. The Minnesota Wild finished the game with a record of 1-2-1 and 3 points. The Stars demonstrated resilience as the visiting team, overcoming a tied score to take the win.
The Wild, playing at home, were unable to capitalize on their equalizer to secure a point. The game concluded with the Stars holding a one-goal advantage, solidifying their undefeated status on the season. No overtime or shootout was required, as the regulation score held until the final buzzer.
Sources
ESPN
