Minnesota Wild @ Dallas Stars: Game Recap

It was a rough night for the Wild in Dallas as they came out 2nd best in a game littered with controversy.

Dallas scored after just 31 seconds as the Wild let Peverely and Seguin do what they liked around the defensive zone and eventually they set up Jamie Benn for an easy finish (0-1). The chemistry of that line would give the Wild fits all night.

After exchanging a few chances in the first period, the Wild tied it up with a shorthanded goal from Erik Haula. Koivu forced a turnover in the Stars defensive zone and played the puck to Haula who slotted the puck home from the left circle (1-1).

The Stars had another powerplay early in the 2nd and after a shot from the point trickled under Kuemper’s pads, Alex Chiasson got there before Marco Scandella to push it over the line (1-2). The Stars nearly extended their lead when Ryan Suter turned the puck over at the blueline and Ryan Garbutt had a clean breakaway only to be stopped by Kuemper. The Wild got back on level terms on a powerplay of their own. A shot from Jonas Brodin caused chaos in the crease. Matt Moulson attempted to whack it in, but it was Charlie Coyle who eventually forced it in for the goal (2-2).

In t he 3rd period, Nino Niederreiter caused some havoc in the Stars defence and the puck was turned over to Kyle Brodziak who blasted a beautiful wrister past Lehtonen to give the Wild their first lead of the game (3-2). The game was already getting heated after a questionable knee-on-knee hit by Matt Cooke on Valeri Nichuskin, when Erik Haula appeared to run Lehtonen. Haula was given 5 and a game, though replays suggest he may have been tripped. Tim Thomas entered the game in relief of Lehtonen, making his Stars debut.

The Stars leveled it ten minutes later with a PPG from Tyler Seguin. Erik Cole dragged Ryan Suter out of position before leaving the puck for Seguin who skated past the falling Suter and manged to force the puck beyond Jared Spurgeon before finishing (3-3). It was game over 4 minutes later when Keith Ballard surrendered the puck to Erik Cole at the Dallas blueline, before Cole raced in on Kuemper to score the GWG.

Final Score: Stars (4), Wild (3).

I expected the Stars to be the much better team at even strength tonight, but the Wild were actually very dominant, they just had an awful night on special teams. The defence made too many mistakes tonight, with Suter, Ballard and Scandella all being responsible. I thought Mikko Koivu and Matt Moulson had very strong games for the Wild.

3 Stars For The Wild:

1) Koivu

2) Moulson

3) Brodziak