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Taking the night off: Dallas Stars are nowhere to be found in game 3

By Brian Sweet

Apr 21, 2023; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; The Dallas Stars pull goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) late in the game against the Minnesota Wild in the third period of game three of the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 21, 2023; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; The Dallas Stars pull goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) late in the game against the Minnesota Wild in the third period of game three of the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-USA TODAY Sports /
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That was not even remotely Dallas Stars hockey last night in Minnesota. The team we saw last night reminded me of a really bad ECHL team that finished at the bottom of the league. From the opening puck drop, the Minnesota Wild had their way with the Dallas Stars.

They were just pushing the Stars into the boards like a bunch of checking practice dummies. The Stars would end up losing 5-1 against the Wild and give them a 2-1 series lead going into game 4 on Sunday night. There was really no life to the team and the Wild deserve to win every bit of that game last night. They shut down Roope Hintz, the third line, and even the second line. Let’s take a look at the three takeaways from last night’s blowout loss to the Wild.

Dallas Stars vs Minnesota Wild Recap: 3. Jani Hawkanpää needs to defend elsewhere

Hawkanpää needs to find a different place to play defense instead of right in front of Jake Oettinger. He was blocking Oettinger’s view and that is what led to the first Wild goal last night. Hawkanpää is a talented veteran defenseman with some size and sometimes that has hurt the Stars this season with him blocking Oettinger’s view. Pete DeBoer has got to look back at the tape from game 3 today and find a different place for him to defend on Sunday night.

 Dallas Stars vs Minnesota Wild Recap: 2. Robo’s disappearance

Jason Robertson has been super quiet for most of this series and it really baffles me and probably other Stars’ fans as well. From having a record-breaking season for the ages to basically being silent. I wonder if his silence has to be related to the Joe Pavelski check in game 1 of this series. I can tell you right now a traumatic event like that can shake a player up like that, but Pavelski needs to call him to motivate him to play better in game 4.

 Dallas Stars vs Minnesota Wild Recap: 1. You have to show up and play

The Stars have got to show up and play on Sunday, simple as that. It’s the only way that they will advance to the second round of the playoffs. Right now the Wild are the more deserving team to advance to the second round if I have to be honest with you. You can’t play hard for six months to get to the Stanley Cup playoffs and expect to glide all the way to the finals. There are seven other teams that have the same goal as you and will do anything in their power to advance to the second round.

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