Biggest winners (and a few losers) after Wild win Game 5 and push Stars to brink of elimination

The Minnesota Wild carried all of the momentum on Tuesday night for Game 5, thanks in part to the heorics of Marcus Foligno and Matt Boldy for the 3-2 overtime victory on Sunday night. With this momentum, the Wild headed to Dallas with a chance to take a 3-2 series lead over the Stars and had Mats Zuccarello and Yakov Trenin back in the lineup.

Minnesota is now officially one win away from advancing to the second round, and picking up their first playoff series win since 2015 after picking up the 4-2 victory. There was plenty of credit to go around for the Wild's Game 5 win. There were also some losers for the game.

Let's take a look at some winners and losers from the Wild's Game 5 win.

Winners and losers from Wild's 4-2 win over Stars in Game 5

Winner: Michael McCarron

In the third period, the Wild held a 2-1 lead over the Stars. Given the star power, no pun intended, on Dallas, Minnesota could not afford to have just a one goal cushion. Enter Michael McCarron, one of the Wild's trade deadline acquisitions. He already has a goal in this playoff series, which arrived in Minnesota's 4-3 Game 3 loss.

Over seven minutes into the third period, McCarron had a breakaway chance, skating past three Stars players. McCarron then shot the puck through Oettinger's five-hole to extend Minnesota's lead to 3-1.

Extending the lead is always a plus. It was a heck of a play by McCarron to not only score a goal, but by skating past three Dallas players to do so.

Loser: Bobby Brink

If there was one thing this series has taught us about the Stars, it's that you can't let them get on the power play. Entering Game 5, the Stars already had eight power play goals on 19 opportunities. Bobby Brink gave the Stars an assist.

With the Wild already up 1-0, Brink slashed Thomas Harley, sending the Stars to a two-minute power play. It took less than a minute for Dallas to tie things up.

Brink learned quick that you have to play clean hockey against the Stars. He didn't and he paid for it.

Winner: Mats Zuccarello

The Wild sure did miss Mats Zuccarello, who hadn't played since Game 1 after taking a hit to the head by Stars defenseman Tyler Myers. While the Wild did win Game 4 without him, they looked like a team that needed him in Games 2 and 3. Luckily for them, he returned to practice on Monday, and was cleared for Game 5 on Tuesday.

Zuccarello showed the viewing audience just how important he is to this Minnesota team. Within the first four minutes of regulation, Zuccarello gave the Wild a 1-0 lead after burying a backhanded pass from Kirill Kaprizov into the wide open net left by Oettiinger.

A player with 13 playoff runs to his credit in 16 seasons is always welcome for any team. With a series win on the horizon, Zuccarello proved just that.

Losers: Wild penalty kill

As mentioned in the Brink section, Minnesota could ill-afford to make mistakes against Dallas, because they will make them pay. Sure enough, that is what happened, with Brink's slashing penalty resulting in a Heiskanen goal to tie the game at one goal apiece.

In the third period, with Minnesota up 3-1, Ryan Hartman was issued an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for hitting Stars captain up high. While the penalty was evened out with Benn hitting the penalty box as well for cross-checking Hartman in retaliation. Even though it was a four-on-four situation, the Stars pulled Oettinger for the extra skater advantage. Much like they were on the penalty kill, the Wild were unable to stop the Stars, as Jason Robertson cut the lead to 3-2.

With the team up 3-2 in the series, they can not let the Stars get under their skin. Don't fall into the trap.

Winner: Kirill Kaprizov

Kaprizov has received a ton of flak these playoffs, for only putting up one goal in the series entering Game 5. That lone goal arrived in Game 1. Since then, he was unable to bury the puck in the back of the net. Given that Kaprizov has the richest contract in NHL history, fans are expecting him to be able to score at will.

In Game 5, Kaprizov assisted on Zuccarello's first period goal, showcasing the duo's chemistry. But in the third period, Kaprizov finally ended his scoreless drought. With the team carrying a 3-2 lead and the Stars having an empty net, Kaprizov gained possession of the puck and powered his way into Dallas' zone and fiinally score a goal to clinch the 4-2 victory.

Winner: Jesper Wallstedt

The last winner for the Wild is goalie Jesper Wallstedt, who has proven head coach John Hynes right to stick with him as the starer over Filip Gustavsson It makes the talk of potentially trading Wallstedt that much more insane.

On Tuesday, the Stars didn't really have a lot of shots on goal, tallying just 22. Dallas only had 11 shots on goal through the first two periods. Meanwhile, the Wild alone blocked 26 shot attempts.

Wallstedt stopped 20 shots on goal. According to the Wild's public relations department, Wallstedt now has a 2.05 goals allowed average and a .926 save percentage through the first five games of this playoff series.

It was an overall team effort, but you must give credit for Wallstedt, as the Wild are now just one win away from clinching their spot in a second-round matchup against the Colorado Avalanche.

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