Dallas Stars Rebound From Loss, Beat Wild 3-2
By Josh Clark
The Dallas Stars rallied over and over again on Wednesday night and came out on top against the Minnesota Wild in game four to take a 3-1 series lead. Game wrap up is below.
The Dallas Stars put on a magnificent show Wednesday night in St. Paul against the Minnesota Wild. After 60 strenuous minutes of action, the Stars found themselves on top 3-2 to take game four of the series.
In the words of the Stars’ 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs intro video, “It wasn’t easy, it wasn’t quick, it wasn’t painless.” The Stars may have been on the edge of the abyss for the majority of the game, but they found a way to close it out on a triumphant note and take a 3-1 series lead back home, where they can close the series out on Friday night.
Game recap
The Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild traded punches for the majority of the first period, with no one being successful except goaltenders Antti Niemi and Devan Dubnyk.
Jason Pominville kicked off the scoring in the second period with a goal just over five minutes in. Ales Hemsky countered with a power play goal to tie it with about 11 minutes left in the period. The Wild would regain the lead quickly, with Charlie Coyle scoring a minute later. On the power play once again, Patrick Eaves scored to tie the game at 2-2.
Jason Spezza would throw the last punch of the period and, consequently, the game when he scored the Stars’ third goal by deflecting it off of his foot to take the 3-2 lead with just 1:09 to go in the second. Dallas held off a brutal attack from Minnesota in the third and closed out game four to take a commanding 3-1 series lead.
Thoughts and Observations
Special team struggles no more
The Dallas Stars had a massive resurgence on the penalty kill and power play tonight in St. Paul. After an ugly game three showing that saw the Stars go 1/2 on the PK and 0/2 on the PP, Dallas was back on the horse tonight, putting on a dominant showing. The Stars ended up going 3/3 on the penalty kill and 2/2 on the power play. That’s how playoff teams roll on special teams.
Outdone in everything except the score
The Stars did not necessarily shine on the team comparison sheet tonight. Besides commanding special teams, Dallas was outshot 30-22, outhit 27-19, and lost the face off battle 43-27. Yet the final score was 3-2 in favor of the Stars. It just goes to show that when the Stars set their mind to winning, it is hard to shake them from their goal.
Can we have some more goalie tandem?
If I could ask and observe a standing ovation for the Dallas Stars’ goaltending tandem, I would. But go ahead and clap anyways. Kari Lehtonen and Antti Niemi have been absolutely tearing it up for the Stars in the crease since the beginning of this series. For all of the people who doubted a two-goalie tandem in the postseason, ha.
Lehtonen started games 1-3 and won the first two, posting a shutout in game one and a .962 save percentage in game two. Game three was not so forgiving for the Big Finn (Lehtonen, that is), mainly because the team in front of him left him out to dry.
Niemi received the nod for game four tonight and did not disappoint. He posted a .93 save percentage and only gave up two goals. Expect to see him carry this momentum into game four, if he starts.
Can’t sweep ’em, but you can still extinguish ’em
The Dallas Stars will now head home with a commanding 3-1 series lead, looking to knock the Wild into an early offseason on home ice. If they can pull off the win, the Stars will be bound for the Western Conference semifinals for the first time since 2008 and face off with the winner of the St. Louis/Chicago series.
More stars: Radek Faksa More Than Carries His Weight
The confetti could fall one more time in the quarterfinals, but we’ll have to wait until Friday. Puck drop is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. from the American Airlines Center in Dallas. Rest easy, Stars fans. It was a nerve-wracking game that may have shed a few days off of your life, but that is what sports are for, right? Keep the faith, and Go Stars.
Playoff updates
The Philadelphia Flyers fended off elimination tonight against the Washington Capitals by winning 2-1. The Caps lead the series 3-1 and return back to Washington for game five on Friday night, looking to advance to the second round.
The Florida Panthers beat the New York Islanders 2-1 to tie the series at 2-2. They will head back to Florida for game five.
Next: Stars Needed To Lose To Wild Early In Playoff Race
The LA Kings lost 3-2 to the San Jose Sharks on the road tonight and will head back home for game five in a 3-1 hole in the series.