Fans got a glimpse of the upcoming first round playoff series between Dallas and Minnesota Thursday night.
And things got physical.
Nine total roughing calls later, the Stars pulled off a win against the Wild, and sent a message that they would give the physical play right back in a week and a half. With the help of the fourth line, the Stars dug their heels in and came back against Minnesota after allowing three power play goals against them.
“I thought our guys did a good job rallying back from that, and then rallying hard in the third to get the win,” Gulutzan said. “So, I thought it was a good character win, especially with all of the power play goals they got.”
Four minutes into play, Wyatt Johnston picked up where he left off Tuesday night. After recovering a puck from Justin Hryckowian, he once again elevated it up and over the goalie to kick off scoring for the night. It is his 44th goal of the season.
Quinn Hughes responded nine minutes later after he put up a goal off of a rush that took Jake Oettinger by surprise and evened the score.
Just before the period ended, Johnston got called for tripping and got sent to the box. The Wild wasted no time capitalizing as Kirill Kaprizov took advantage of Esa Lindell failing to clear the puck from the front of the net and scored. Play got chippy as time expired, previewing what the next forty minutes would look like.
Notably, defenseman Miro Heiskanen was not on the ice after the first period and was deemed questionable to return with a lower body injury. There was no update postgame.
Lian Bichsel, who usually leads the physicality charge for the Stars, got into it with Nick Foligno after the Minnesota forward got too close to Oettinger for Bichsel’s liking. Both players got two minutes for roughing, and watched as neither team made any progress during four-on-four play.
Esa Lindell continued the trend when he gave Yakov Trenin a little trouble and got called for roughing. Kaprizov scored almost immediately and brought the score to 3-1.
Not to be outdone, Colin Blackwell stepped up to the plate right after. He put a nifty shot past Filip Gustavsson and as he went to celebrate, Nick Foligno went after him. Everyone joined in on the melee and by the end of the scuffle, Foligno and Tyler Myers were each awarded penalties for roughing.
“Big, physical — that’s playoff hockey,” Blackwell said. “Playing in it last year was a great opportunity and getting some of the taste of that. And obviously playing them a week before the playoffs. It’s definitely set the tone for the next couple weeks here.”
Before Dallas could get any rhythm going in the power play, Johnston got called for interference and initiated more four-on-four play, that led to a roughly 50-second power play for the Wild. Both ended scoreless.
The fourth line charge, led by Blackwell, continued. The forward took a shot that did not connect, but got cleaned up by Cameron Hughes. The rookie, who had only played in four NHL games before tonight, brought the score to 3-3, putting up a huge tying goal for the Stars and marking a milestone for the forward.
“That’s a long time coming,” Hughes said. “I’ve always dreamed of scoring my first goal and I told my dad I was gonna get him a puck. And scoring in a game that means something and it’s a big game, just makes it more special.”
Minnesota did not back down and forced Myers to take a holding penalty to prevent another goal off the rush. The Wild went to the power play and, with nine seconds left in the period, Ryan Hartman scored off a pass from Jared Spurgeon and took the lead.
Dallas responded early in the third period when Mikko Rantanen deflected a puck Thomas Harley sent towards Gustavsson. The officials reviewed the play, but determined the forward’s 22nd goal of the season was good.
Now tied, both teams gave their all to try and pull ahead. Jason Robertson got there first. Off a pass from Lindell, Robertson took a tough angle shot and put it over Gustavsson’s right shoulder and grabbed the lead.
Time ticked down and Minnesota became desperate for a chance to tie things up. When Rantanen went to the box for slashing, it seemed like a golden opportunity for the WIld. They emptied their net and went six on four against the Stars, but could not break through Dallas’ penalty kill, which had struggled all night.
When it became clear the Stars had pulled ahead, Quinn Hughes and Rantanen tackled each other and Matt Boldy got involved. Both Hughes and Boldy were sent off the ice.
Dallas pulled off an impressive physical win after going down early, and demonstrated just how tight this first round playoff series will be.
The Stars will play their last home game of the regular season on Saturday at 4 p.m. CT against the New York Rangers.