Riding the momentum of back-to-back dominant 7-goal victories, the Stars entered this divisional clash against the Minnesota Wild eager to extend their win streak and tighten the gap in the standings. With confidence high and their offense firing on all cylinders, Dallas looked to make a statement in this key matchup.
First Period
The first period started with an early spark as the Wild generated a dangerous 2-on-1 chance but were thwarted by Jake Oettinger. Moments later, a tripping penalty on Mason Marchment gave the Stars the game’s first power play. Miro Heiskanen nearly capitalized with a shot that rang off the post, but Minnesota’s strong defensive effort stifled Dallas, allowing few quality chances. Jason Robertson had a prime opportunity on a cross-crease pass, but overall, shots on net remained limited for both sides.
Midway through the period, the Wild began applying pressure, though their efforts were met by Dallas’s tight defensive coverage. Tensions boiled over as Brenden Smith and Jake Middleton dropped the gloves in a spirited fight, signaling the growing physicality of the matchup. Soon after, Matt Duchene set up Tyler Seguin for a one-timer, but Filip Gustavsson stood tall to make the save.
As the game grew more intense, another fight erupted between Matt Dumba and Zach Bogosian, igniting further energy on both benches. The increased physical play translated to a faster pace, with both teams trading rushes. Late in the period, the Stars finally broke through. Right off a face-off, a point shot from Ilya Lyubushkin deflected off Mason Marchment and past Gustavsson, giving Dallas a 1-0 lead heading into the second period.
Score: Stars 1 – Wild 0
Shots on Goal: Stars 15 – Wild 7
Second Period
The second period carried over the intensity from the first, with both teams coming out aggressive and trading chances early. The Wild tilted momentum in their favor during a prolonged attack while a delayed penalty loomed against the Stars, but they couldn’t find the net.
On the ensuing penalty kill, the Stars played a disciplined game, disrupting Minnesota’s zone entries at the blue line and clearing the puck effectively. Once back at even strength, Matt Duchene capitalized on a turnover at center ice to create some dangerous opportunities for Dallas. However, a lapse in discipline led to a penalty on Jamie Benn, putting the Wild back on the power play.
Despite the man disadvantage, the Stars generated a shorthanded chance off a broken play, which disrupted the Wild’s power play rhythm and limited their opportunities. As Benn returned to the ice, Duchene received a cross-ice pass and broke in alone on Filip Gustavsson, but the Wild goaltender stood firm to keep the game close.
The physical play remained high as the period progressed, with both teams trading offensive pushes. Minnesota hit the post on one attempt, while Dallas answered immediately with a high-danger chance of their own. The back-and-forth action continued, but Dallas edged out Minnesota in offensive productivity, outshooting them significantly, as the Wild managed just four shots on goal in the period.
Score: Stars 1 – Wild 0
Shots on Goal: Stars 12 – Wild 4
Third Period
The third period began with the Wild winning the face-off, but the Stars quickly asserted control, gaining possession in the offensive zone and cycling the puck effectively. The opening stretch was marked by continuous action, with almost five minutes of whistle-free play, during which Dallas generated several high-quality scoring chances.
Logan Stankoven showcased his creativity with a crafty play that nearly resulted in a goal. Minnesota responded with a few solid attempts on Jake Oettinger, but Dallas countered with pressure of their own. Filip Gustavsson remained sharp, making an impressive save by swatting the puck out of the air. During another Stars push, Sam Steel drove hard to the net, and Mason Marchment capitalized by slamming the puck home to extend Dallas’s lead.
With 5:50 left, the Wild struck back. Jared Spurgeon rifled a shot off the face-off, cutting the deficit to one and ramping up the intensity for the closing minutes. Brock Faber followed up with a high-danger chance on Oettinger, but the Stars counterattacked quickly, forcing Minnesota to regroup. A late icing call against Dallas set up a critical face-off in their zone, leading to a flurry of Wild shots.
With 1:25 remaining, Gustavsson was pulled for an extra attacker. The Wild came close to equalizing, including a shot that rang off the post and a dangerous attempt from Kirill Kaprizov that Oettinger gloved down. Despite the late surge, the Stars held firm, securing the victory in a hard-fought contest.
Final Score of the Game: Stars 2 – Wild 1
Final Shots on Goal: Stars 40 – Wild 23
Three Stars of the Game ⭐️Mason Marchment ⭐️⭐️Filip Gustavsson ⭐️⭐️⭐️Kirill Kaprizov