After two quick power play goals in the second period, the Minnesota Wild found themselves down 2-1 in game one against the Dallas Stars. That could have been the moment that ended game one in Dallas’s favor, yet they stayed composed and found a way to battle back.
It was a late one on Monday night as it took until double overtime for Ryan Hartman to score the game winner for the Wild. Both teams played great in this one. It is funny how things tighten up scoring wise in the postseason. During the Wild and Stars four regular season matchups this season three of the games had at least five goals – one was a 6-5 shootout victory for the Wild on Dec. 4.
The Minnesota Wild beat the Dallas Stars in a very close game one.
There are two players to thank for this game being as tight as it was – Filip Gustavsson and Jake Oettinger. Both net minders were great with Gustavsson making 51 saves on 53 shots whereas Oettinger had 45 saves on 48 shots.
Even though the Stars lost, Jake Oettinger looked like the difference maker he was in last year’s opening round series against the Calgary Flames. Here is just one of the great saves Oettinger made in this one.
During the second period, Joe Pavelski was injured after a late hit from Matt Dumba. The referees originally handed out a five minute major, but after review changed it to a minor penalty for roughing.
Matt Dumba lays a late hit on Joe Pavelski and receives a 2-minute minor penalty for roughing. pic.twitter.com/a6XTWf4Hup
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 18, 2023
This was a major point of discussion throughout the game as some felt as though Dumba’s hit was dirty. The refs did the right thing on the ice calling it a major so that it could be reviewed, and after review the league found it to to be a clean hit. Here is what Stars head coach Pete DeBoer had to say after the game:
DeBoer says Pavelski is “OK, but banged up” after “he hit his head on the ice.” DeBoer says they have the best officials in the world, and they got a chance to look at it, decided it wasn’t a major, he trusts that and “we have to live with it.”
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) April 18, 2023
Max Domi of the Stars went after Dumba for the hit. He was given a 10 minute misconduct for his actions as he continued to punch him after the refs attempted to pull him away while the two were on the ice. Domi was one of the players highlighted ahead of the game as a key player to watch. He was second on the Stars in shots on goal with five, but he failed to get on the scoresheet in this one.
Game two is scheduled for Wednesday as the Stars look to even the series at one game a piece.