Dallas Stars get eaten alive by the Minnesota Wild 4-0 in the wilderness

The Dallas Stars really did have a bad last dress rehearsal before the games start counting on Thursday. The Stars were eaten alive in the Minnesota Wilderness by the Wild 4-0. You could tell the Stars didn’t care about tonight’s game.

It looked like they were going through the motions and not trying to at least get a point. If they played this bad tonight, I wonder how they will come out of the gate on Thursday night at the American Airlines Center. Let’s take a look at the three takeaways from tonight’s loss to the Minnesota Wild.

Dallas Stars vs. Minnesota Wild Recap: 3. Standing in front of Oettinger

The Stars need to learn not to over-collapse and block Jake Oettinger’s view of the puck in the Stars’ zone. That is what led to the first goal of the night for the Minnesota Wild. Oettinger’s view was blocked by at least three players as he was trying to locate the puck. Jake Oettinger plays his best game when he can see the puck at all times. If the Stars were spread out on that play, Oettinger would have more than likely made the save and kept the game scoreless.

Dallas Stars vs. Minnesota Wild Recap: 2. Wedgewood’s play needs to improve

I’m very concerned about how Scott Wedgewood played tonight against the Wild. He gave up a couple of easy goals that he probably could have saved. Kirill Kaprizov’s goal off his helmet was a lucky deflection into the net. He was also flailing around out there trying to make some saves tonight.

If Jake Oettinger were to go down with an injury or needs a night off because he’s sick, Wedgewood is the last line of defense. I don’t want to see the Stars have to go goalie shopping at the trade deadline because Wedgewood can’t make basic saves.

Dallas Stars vs. Minnesota Wild Recap: 1. Stars might look a bit rough on Thursday

With all the injuries that the Stars are dealing with right now, I wouldn’t be shocked if the Stars are not their normal selves. If Roope Hintz and Wyatt Johnston were to play Thursday night, they would be shaking off all the offseason rust. I think it might take a couple of games to get the offense back to the way it was last season. The Stars were lucky not to have injuries last season however, this year it could cost us a couple of games out of the gate to start the 2023-24 season.