(SportsNetwork.com) – The Minnesota Wild will try to continue their recent hot
streak, as they shoot for a fifth win in six tries when they host the
struggling Dallas Stars on Saturday.
Minnesota went 6-3-0 in the first month of 2014-15 and closed October with
consecutive 4-3 wins over Boston and San Jose. Tuesday’s road victory over the
Bruins came in regulation, but the Wild needed a shootout to defeat the
visiting Sharks on Thursday.
The Wild rallied to post a victory over the Sharks in the opener of a three-
game homestand. Minnesota trailed 2-0 in the first period and never held a
lead in the game before winning in the shootout.
Kyle Brodziak scored two third-period goals to force extra time. Minnesota
trailed 3-1 after Joe Thornton’s goal at 1:37 of the third, but Brodziak
tallied less than four minutes later to make it a one-goal game and he evened
the score with 9:28 remaining in regulation. The goals were the first two of
the season for Brodziak.
“We were getting pucks to the net but weren’t get many high-quality chances,”
said Brodziak. “Fortunately we were able to break them down there in the third
and got a few in.”
Mikko Koivu also lit the lamp in regulation and Thomas Vanek had two assists
for the Wild. Jason Pominville scored the decisive goal of the shootout and
Darcy Kuemper made 25 saves through regulation and OT.
Even at one goal apiece after two rounds, Pominville went in slow and wristed
a shot past Antti Niemi’s glove and Kuemper stoned Patrick Marleau for the
win.
The victory pushed Minnesota to 4-0 on home ice this season. The Wild will
complete their homestand Tuesday against Pittsburgh.
Dallas has lost three straight games, but has at least earned a point while
losing each of its last two outings on home ice. After dropping a 4-3 overtime
decision against visiting St. Louis on Tuesday, the Stars were handed a 2-1 OT
loss by Anaheim on Friday.
Nate Thompson’s goal with 2:30 played in the extra session lifted the Ducks
past the Stars. Corey Perry accepted a drop pass from Cam Fowler just inside
the Dallas blue line, took one stride before making a hard stop below the left
circle and hammering a shot towards the net. The puck deflected off Thompson
and sailed by Kari Lehtonen to end the contest.
Antoine Roussel produced the lone offense for the Stars, tying the game at 1-1
with 5:27 left in the third. Lehtonen stopped 22 pucks in defeat.
Although his team was able to earn a point for the second straight game, Stars
head coach Lindy Ruff was less than pleased with his club’s play on Friday.
“We are very fortunate to get a point,” Ruff said. “The first 40 minutes was
as poor as I’ve seen us play.”
Tyler Seguin failed to register a point Friday for only the third time this
season and for the first time since Oct. 11. Seguin has 15 points on the
season, tying him for the league lead with Philadelphia’s Jakub Voracek and
Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby.
The Stars and Wild split four meetings in 2013-14, with Minnesota winning the
first two encounters at home before Dallas closed the season series with a
pair of victories as the host.
Dallas has claimed six of the past 10 meetings in this matchup, but the Wild
have taken three in a row and five of the last six in St. Paul.
