Buckle up, folks. This Dallas Stars vs Minnesota Wild series has all the makings of one that’s going to go the distance. There were plenty of momentum swings, but the Stars came out on top in Game 3 with a 4-3 double overtime win. The victory gives Dallas two games to one lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference first round series.
Wyatt Johnston recorded the overtime-winner at 12:08 of the second overtime period. It was the first overtime game for both teams in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Little has separated these teams since the Game 1 win by the Wild.
Dallas Stars vs Minnesota Wild Mid-Series Recap
Momentum Swings Abound
The Stars came out firing with a pair of first-period goals by Mikko Rantanen and Jason Robertson, respectively. Some thought Dallas was going to assert control of the series and sail to getting home-ice advantage back after losing it in a 6-1 debacle in the series opener.
However, Minnesota came firing back with three consecutive goals to take the lead back. Marcus Johansson got an important goal with less than two minutes to go in the opening frame to draw the Wild within one. Joel Eriksson Ek and Michael McCarron added goals in the second to give the Wild a 3-2 lead after 40 minutes.
Matt Duchene netted his second goal of the series to send the game to overtime for the first time in the best-of-seven affair.
Jesper Wallstedt stopped 32 shots for the Wild while Jake Oettinger made 28 saves for the Stars. Game 4 will be at 5:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon at the Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul.
(Credit Image: © Brian Mcwalters/Cal Sport Media)
Up-And-Down Oetter
The Dallas goalie has been on a roller coaster much like this series has been. Oettinger has been looking to quiet the doubters after being pulled in the season-ending loss to the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference Final.
It was a rocky Game 1 for the American goalie, but he bounced back with a solid outing in Game 2. Things started well in the third game, but the Wild got a pair of goals on six shots. However, Oettinger kept the Wild off the scoreboard in the third and gave his team a chance to win. The Olympian has stepped up in the last two games since that shaky outing in the first game.
The Stars will go as far Oettinger will carry them. He’s been looking to prove that former coach Peter DeBoer’s decision to pull him was a rash one. However, Dallas will Oettinger to get back on track if it wants to carry the team deep into the playoffs.
Depth Charges
Minnesota’s top players like Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy, Quinn Hughes, and Eriksson Ek grab all the headlines. However, it was the depth players that came through on the scoresheet for the Wild.
Johansson and McCarron each scored their first goals of the series in the win. Minnesota has one of the best top sixes in the group. However, it’s depth players that will carry a team to a Stanley Cup championship.
It’s oftentimes a third or fourth-line player will come through in a clutch situation with goal or a big play. Things like this have happened in the playoffs before and they’ll happen again.
Dallas was able to extend the game with some great penalty killing. The Stars buckled down after Johansson’s power play tally and went 5-of-6 on the PK. This includes five consecutive kills with three in third and two in overtime. Players like Oskar Back and the other Stars’ penalty killers gave the team a chance before Johnston’s game-winner.
Main photo by: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
