NHL’s Central Division is loaded, with three of the league’s best teams battling it out

The Wild and Stars are two of the top teams in the NHL.

They’re also next-door neighbors in the Central Division behind first-place Colorado, meaning they would be first-round opponents if the playoffs started today. And the Wild, despite their point total trailing only four clubs in the entire league, wouldn’t have home-ice advantage: They’d be opening on the road in Dallas.

This might seem like an unfair consequence of the division-based playoff format that the NHL implemented in 2014 to replace the longtime one vs. eight conference seeding structure.

But if these standings stick, the setup might not be the disadvantage it appears, what with the Wild matching up better against the best than they have in recent seasons.

“We have a tough division, and that makes you more prepared if you’re going to make it and go there,” goaltender Filip Gustavsson said. “We have to keep winning against the division and steal points from them, and hopefully we’re going to make it in the end.”

The Wild secured their latest signature win Thursday night when they overcame the Stars 5-2 at Grand Casino Arena despite a depleted lineup and history not being on their side.

Dallas hadn’t lost in regulation to the Wild in 15 games, this tilt in the rivalry dating to the 2021-22 season. The Stars also came into St. Paul on an 11-game point streak and with only one regulation loss on the road.

Without injured forwards Mats Zuccarello, Marco Rossi, Marcus Foligno and Vinnie Hinostroza and defenseman Jake Middleton, the Wild rallied from being down 1-0 and 2-1 to get the outcome they deserved; the Stars tested Gustavsson a season-low 18 times, and the Wild were the more consistent side even though they gave up a power-play goal (off winger Matt Boldy’s stick) and their first shorthanded goal of the season.

“It just speaks to the culture in the room,” said veteran defenseman Zach Bogosian, whose first goal of the season was the 2-2 equalizer late in the second period. “Everyone’s ready for that next opportunity. Obviously, guys being out — quite a few guys that are key parts of our team — gives guys other opportunities, whether it’s to get more minutes or special teams or whatnot.

“That’s how good teams get into the playoffs. That’s how good teams win in the playoffs, from top to bottom. It’s not just the 20 guys or 22 guys that are in the room. It’s guys getting called up. It’s guys working hard at practice and making sure that we’re all getting better together.”

Being ravaged by injuries isn’t new for the Wild, but this competitiveness against the Central Division is.

They’ve also defeated Colorado (3-2 in a shootout on Nov. 28) and Winnipeg (3-0 on Nov. 23). Overall, they’re 6-2-1 vs. the division after a poor performance contributed to their downfall two seasons ago; they were a combined 0-10-1 vs. the Avalanche, Jets and Stars and didn’t make the playoffs.

“We knew coming into the game against a team like that you have to play with strong discipline and attention to detail,” coach John Hynes said. “I thought we did that, and I know our competitive level was where it needed to be. So, I think when you combine that, that’s a good recipe to win a game.”

Aside from Dallas and Colorado, the Wild have also been victorious against four of the other top-10 teams in the league in Carolina, Vegas, Anaheim and the New York Islanders.

They’ll get a do-over against Washington at the end of this homestand, and they’ll face Boston for the first time this weekend; the Wild won’t see Tampa Bay until March.

So, as much as it looks like the playoff picture could work against the Wild, their performance is proving they not only stack up against the leaders, but they belong among them.