MN Wild Players Shrug Off Historic Playoff Win
The 2026 Minnesota Wild did something on Thursday night that they haven’t done in over a decade — advance beyond the first round of the NHL Playoffs.
And they did it with a convincing 5-2 victory over the Dallas Stars that sealed the series at 4-2. Despite its historic nature, the Wild were very tempered with their celebration Thursday night (more on that momentarily).
Minnesota Wild players impressed by Grand Casino Arena noise
What they were impressed by, however, was the energy fans brought to Grand Casino Arena throughout the series, but especially in Game 6. Rookie goaltender Jesper Wallstedt — who recorded 21 saves on 23 Stars attempts Thursday — said his ears were legitimately hurting, at one point during last night’s win.
Others, who have played through playoff series in Minnesota before, couldn’t believe the atmosphere, either. Kirill Kaprizov ( told reporters in the locker room postgame that it was the loudest he has ever heard the home crowd in downtown St. Paul, since he arrived six years ago.
sources: MN Wild fans put up some historic decibel levels last night pic.twitter.com/Ed0cjjo69h
— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) May 1, 2026
If the Minnesota Wild’s 25+ year-old building (which is in need of renovation) can get any louder than it did Thursday night, we will undoubtedly witness it in the upcoming series against the Colorado Avalanche — another division rival who’s, this time, widely considered the best team in hockey.
MN Wild players hungry for more?
That’s why, while head coach John Hynes admitted the Wild planned to enjoy their historic Game 6 victory Thursday, there was no plastic lining the lockers at Grand Casino Arena last night.
It would’ve been unnecessary anyway, since there were no celebratory champagne bottles being popped by anyone in the home locker room. There weren’t any t-shirts or hats being passed out either. Instead, there was a tone being set by those at the very top, even before puck drop.
Win or lose, the playoffs go on.
Clearly, the 2025-26 Minnesota Wild have much bigger plans than winning one playoff series, something Olympic Gold Medalists Matt Boldy (2 empty-net goals in gm. 6) and Brock Faber (1 assist, +3) made especially clear, following last night’s win.
How pumped were MN Wild players over their historic playoff victory?
— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) May 1, 2026
Let's just say… they weren't popping any champagne bottles at Grand Casino Arena last night. 👀
"We knew we were the better team, we just had to go prove it, and that's what we did. So it's onto round two,… pic.twitter.com/J3cvct2Vde
Boldy: “I don’t think it’s that hard to [stay focused after this win]. We didn’t have the goal to win the first round. You dream big, you set high expectations for yourself and each other… It’s kind of that ‘on to the next’ mentality.”
Boldy (cont.): “Like yeah, it’s nice to win. But I think we are all pretty excited to get to Colorado and get that game going. So you enjoy it and learn as much as you can, and stuff like that. But like I said, it’s kind of the ‘onto the next one’ mentality.”
Spurgeon: “We’re not taking it for granted. But we’re gonna enjoy it here tonight, and then get ready for a hard series coming up.
Faber: “We did what we had to do. We played a good series, we deserved to win, and that’s what we did… We knew we were the better team, we just had to go prove it, and that’s what we did. So it’s onto round two, now. You flush this, it doesn’t matter anymore. We’ve got another series to win.”
Minnesota Wild postgame interviews – Game 6
This Wild team might just be built different
I should have known better, given how this team is the living embodiment of their team president, Bill Guerin, who will not stand for anything less than Stanley Cups.
Nonetheless, there was some concern, at least in the back of my mind, that Minnesota Wild players might get caught up in winning just one playoff series. After all, it’s all the media’s been talking about for most of the past month.
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But silly me, that isn’t how this team is built. Quinn Hughes also told reporters after the game that their experience in the Olympics absolutely impacted how they are handling and going through this playoff run, however deep it goes.
In other words, if the MN Wild ultimately bring Lord Stanley’s Cup back to the State of Hockey for the first time in the history of the sport, it could very well stem from Team USA winning Gold for the first time since 1980.
That’s pretty cool.
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