The Chicago Wolves (2nd in Central, 36-21-8-7, 87 points) and Texas Stars (3rd in Central, 37-29-4-2, 80 points) will meet in a best-of-five series for the right to advance in the 2026 Calder Cup Playoffs. The Wolves locked in the No. 2 seed, while the Stars are the No. 3 seed.
Texas will host Games 1 and 2 (April 28 and 30 at 7 p.m. CT at H-E-B Center in Cedar Park), with Games 3 and 4 (if necessary) at Allstate Arena in Rosemont on May 2 and 3. Game 5 (if needed) will be at Allstate Arena on May 5.
Head-to-Head This Season
Texas owned the regular-season series, going 6-1-0-1 against the Wolves. The Stars outscored Chicago 32-22 overall. Head-to-head results:
Games at Allstate Arena (Chicago home):
- January 10, 2026: Texas Stars 3, Chicago Wolves 1
- February 21, 2026: Chicago Wolves 5, Texas Stars 4
- March 7, 2026: Texas Stars 4, Chicago Wolves 2
- March 8, 2026: Texas Stars 7, Chicago Wolves 6 (Shootout)
Games at H-E-B Center (Texas home):
- March 17, 2026: Texas Stars 2, Chicago Wolves 1
- March 18, 2026: Texas Stars 5, Chicago Wolves 4
- April 3, 2026: Texas Stars 3, Chicago Wolves 1
- April 4, 2026: Texas Stars 4, Chicago Wolves 2
Chicago showed some fight in tighter games and earned a shootout point once, but Texas consistently found ways to win.
Goalie Matchup
- Chicago Wolves: Cayden Primeau (expected starter) — Primeau has been the clear No. 1, appearing in ~38 games with a 2.41 GAA, 91.6% save percentage, 21-11-7 record, and 4 shutouts. He provides stability and has the ability to steal games. Backup options include Amir Miftakhov.
- Texas Stars: Remi Poirier (clear No. 1) — Poirier played 50+ games with a strong 2.61 GAA and 91.2% save percentage. He’s reliable, battle-tested, and capable of big performances, as seen in the April 3 win over Chicago. Backup: Arno Tiefensee.
It’s tough to give an edge but Poirier may play a bigger role. Poirier’s had a heavier workload and great recent form, but Primeau’s numbers are better and he can match him in a tight series.
Team Strengths and Weaknesses
Chicago Wolves Strengths: Excellent forward depth and scoring balance. Players like Felix Unger Sörum (65 points in ~70 games), Justin Robidas (~57 points), Bradly Nadeau (53 points in 51 games), Ryan Suzuki (48 points), and Noel Gunler have provided consistent offense. The team is resilient and has playoff experience in recent years. Goaltending with Primeau is a strength. Weaknesses: They were dominated by Texas in the regular season and can be inconsistent defensively (220 GF / 217 GA). Special teams and sustained pressure against a stingy opponent have been issues at times.
Texas Stars Strengths: Strong goaltending from Poirier and the ability to capitalize on opportunities against Chicago (as shown in the season series). They have contributors like Cameron Hughes, Matthew Seminoff, Jack Becker, Artem Shlaine, and others who can generate offense. The Stars have made the playoffs five straight years and bring postseason poise. They play with structure and can grind out wins. Weaknesses: Less scoring upside with slightly negative goal differential (222 GF / 228 GA). They can be vulnerable to high-powered attacks if their defense is stretched, and they relied on timely scoring against Chicago rather than total dominance in every area. AS you’ll see below, their Power Play is the 3rd worst in the AHL at 14.2%.
Special Teams
| Team | Power Play % (AHL Rank) | Penalty Kill % (AHL Rank) |
| Texas Stars | 14.2% (30) | 79.2% (26) |
| Chicago Wolves | 16.9% (24) | 84.1% (6) |
The Wolves should have a massive advantage on special teams but they have not been able to take advantage in the regular season matchups.
Outlook
This series pits two familiar Central Division rivals who split the season series dramatically in Texas’s favor. Chicago has the talent and depth to flip the script in a short series — especially if they get contributions from their full group — while Texas will lean on Poirier, their season-series confidence, and structured play. Expect tight, physical games with goaltending playing a huge role.
It should be a competitive, hard-fought battle. First puck drop is April 28 in Cedar Park — let the playoffs begin!