DALLAS STARS NOTES:
FIRST ROUND SERIES SCHEDULE
Date Time (CT) DAL [C2] vs. MIN [C3] Location TV/Radio/Result
Game 1 Mon, April 17 8:30 p.m. Minnesota at Dallas American Airlines Center Wild 3, Stars 2 (2OT)
Game 2 Wed, April 19 8:30 p.m. Minnesota at Dallas American Airlines Center Stars 7, Wild 3
Game 3 Fri, April 21 8:30 p.m. Dallas at Minnesota Xcel Energy Center BSSW, TBS/KTCK
Game 4 Sun, April 23 5:30 p.m. Dallas at Minnesota Xcel Energy Center BSSW, TBS/KTCK
Game 5 Tue, April 25 TBD Minnesota at Dallas American Airlines Center BSSW (National: TBD)/KTCK
Game 6 * Fri, April 28 TBD Dallas at Minnesota Xcel Energy Center BSSW (National: TBD)/KTCK
Game 7 * Sun, April 30 TBD Minnesota at Dallas American Airlines Center BSSW (National: TBD)/KTCK
- if necessary
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
April 2 – Recalled goaltender Scott Wedgewood from Texas (AHL) and loaned goaltender Matt Murray to Texas (AHL)
April 3 – Recalled defenseman Thomas Harley from Texas (AHL)
April 19 – Recalled forward Riley Tufte from Texas (AHL)
HOW THE SERIES HAS UNFOLDED
Game 1: April 17, 2023 – STARS 2 vs. WILD 3 (2OT) | Minnesota leads series 1-0 The Stars opened their 2023 Western Conference First Round series against the Minnesota Wild with a 3-2 loss in double overtime. Forwards Roope Hintz (1-0—1) and Jason Robertson (1-0—1) tallied goals for the Stars, with both goals coming on the power play. Captain Jamie Benn (0-1—1), forward Joe Pavelski (0-1—1) and defenseman Miro Heiskanen (0-1—1) recorded assists for Dallas, while goaltender Jake Oettinger made 45 saves on 48 shots. Heiskanen recorded a game-high 41:42 TOI, while defenseman Jani Hakanpää paced the Stars with eight hits.
PP: 2-5 | PK: 3-4 | SF: 53 | SA: 48 | DAL TOI: M. Heiskanen (41:42 – game high) | Attendance: 18,532 (sellout)
Three Stars: 1. MIN – R. Hartman 2. MIN – F. Gustavsson 3. DAL – J. Oettinger
Game 2: April 19, 2023 – STARS 7 vs. WILD 3 | Series tied 1-1
Led by a hat trick performance from forward Roope Hintz (3-1—4), the Stars tied their team record for goals in a playoff game with a 7-3 victory over the Minnesota Wild at American Airlines Center, knotting the series at a game apiece. Hintz became the 15th different player in Stanley Cup Playoffs history with an even-strength, power-play and shorthanded goal in a contest and first since Tyler Johnson in Game 2 of the 2015 Conference Finals (with Tampa Bay). Defenseman Miro Heiskanen also had a four-point night with four assists (0-4—4). It marked the second time in the past 30 years where two Stars players have recorded four-plus points in a playoff game. The other instance: Heiskanen and Denis Gurianov in Game 6 of the 2020 First Round. Forward Evgenii Dadonov (2-0—2) tallied the first two playoff goals of his career, captain Jamie Benn (1-1—2) posted a goal and an assist and forward Tyler Seguin (1-0—1) potted a power-play tally in the win. With two assists, forward Jason Robertson (0-2—2) earned his first multi-point game of his postseason career. Goaltender Jake Oettinger made 23 saves on 26 shots for his fifth career playoff victory.
PP: 3-6 | PK: 4-5 | SF: 31 | SA: 26 | DAL TOI: M. Heiskanen (22:36) | Attendance: 18,532 (sellout)
Three Stars: 1. DAL – R. Hintz 2. DAL – E. Dadonov 3. DAL – M. Heiskanen
DALLAS STARS NOTES
TONIGHT’S GAME: After seeing the Stars and Wild split the first two games in Dallas, the series shifts to Saint Paul beginning tonight with Game 3 at Xcel Energy Center (8:30 p.m. CT, TV: BSSW, TBS, Radio: The Ticket 96.7-FM/1310- AM). When a best-of-seven series is tied 1-1, the winner of Game 3 holds an all-time series record of 231-115 (.668) (3-5 in 2022).
THINGS ARE GETTING WILD OVER HERE
- This marks the second time the Stars and Wild have met in the playoffs, with the Stars winning the 2016 First Round series in six games.
- Through two games, forward Roope Hintz leads the Stars in goals (4) and shares first in points (4-1—5) against the Wild.
- In Game 2, Hintz (3-1—4) recorded the first playoff home hat trick in Dallas Stars history (since 1993) and second in franchise history (also Dino Ciccarelli in 1981 w/ MNS). It marked the first postseason hat trick for the Stars since forward Joel Kiviranta in Game 7 of the 2020 Western Conference Second Round at Colorado on Sept. 4, 2020.
- Hintz became the 15th different player in Stanley Cup Playoffs history with an even-strength goal, power-play goal and shorthanded goal in a contest and first since Tyler Johnson in Game 2 of the 2015 Conference Finals (w/ TBL).
- Defenseman Miro Heiskanen has five points (0-5—5) in two games vs. Minnesota, including a four-assist performance in Game 2.
- Heiskanen (0-4—4) matched the franchise record for most points in a playoff game by a Stars/North Stars defenseman, a mark set by Brad Maxwell (0-4—4 in Game 4 of 1981 SCF) and equaled by Heiskanen (1-3—4 in Game 6 of 2020 R1).
- Hintz (3-1—4) and Heiskanen (0-4—4) combined for the second time in the past 30 years where two Stars players have recorded four-plus points in a playoff game. The other instance: Heiskanen and Denis Gurianov in Game 6 of the 2020 First Round.
- Forward Evgenii Dadonov ranks second on the Stars in goals (2) through two games against the Wild. Both of his goals came in Game 2, which also represented the first two goals of his postseason career (6 GP).
- In Game 2, captain Jamie Benn scored his 21st career playoff goal to pass Al MacAdam (20) and move into a tie with Brett Hull for 10th place on the franchise’s all-time list.
- With a win in Game 2, goaltender Jake Oettinger (Lakeville, Minn.) became the first Minnesota-born goalie to earn a playoff victory against a Minnesota-based team (the Wild and North Stars)
MINNESOTA WILD NOTES:
REGULAR-SEASON SERIES NOTES
DALLAS STARS
All-Time Wild Record: 37-37-13 (24-13-5 at Xcel Energy Center, 13-24-8 at Dallas)
2023-23: The Wild went 2-2-0 in the season series with the Stars…Minnesota won the series opening game at American Airlines Center, 6-5, in a shootout (12/4), lost 4-1 at Xcel Energy Center in the second game (12/29), lost 4-1 at Dallas in the third game (2/8) and won, 2-1, in shootout in the final meeting at St. Paul (2/17)… LW Kirill Kaprizov (2-1=3) and RW Mats Zuccarello (1-2=3) led Minnesota with three points each…C Joel Eriksson Ek (2-0=2), D Jared Spurgeon (0-2=2), RW Ryan Reaves (0-2=2) each recorded two points…G Marc-Andre Fleury went 1-1-0 with a 3.87 GAA and a .896 SV% after starting the first two meetings for the Wild…G Filip Gustavsson started the final two games and went 1-1-0 with a 1.97 GAA and a .939 SV%…C Roope Hintz paced Dallas with seven points (4-3=7)…LW Jason Robertson had five points (1-4=5)…C Wyatt Johnston tallied four points (1-3=4)…G Jake Oettinger went 2-0-1 with a 1.87 GAA and a .947 SV% in four starts for Dallas…G Scott Wedgewood entered during the first game (12/4) and stopped 14 of 15 shots faced, earning the loss.
WILD LEADERS: Zuccarello (3-16=19 in 22 games) leads Minnesota with 20 points (4-16=20) in 23 games against Dallas…Spurgeon owns 19 points (6-13=1) in 42 contests…C Ryan Hartman has 14 points (7-7=14) in 27 matches…Kaprizov has 12 points (6-6=12) in eight contests…D Matt Dumba owns 12 points (6-6=12) in 30 games.
WILD GOALIES: Fleury is 13-6-1 with a 2.18 GAA, a .927 SV% and one shutout in 20 games played (20 starts) vs. the Stars…Gustavsson is 3-1-0 with a 1.73 GAA and a .950 SV% in four starts.
STARS LEADERS: C Tyler Seguin (18-27=45 in 41 matches) and LW Jamie Benn (20-25=45 in 52 games) lead the Stars with 45 points each against Minnesota…C Joe Pavelski owns 44 points (21-23=44) in 53 games against the Wild…Hintz has 15 points (7-8=15) in 16 contests.
STARS GOALIES: Oettinger is 4-0-1 with a 2.40 GAA and a .917 SV% in seven career games (six starts)…Wedgewood is 0-1-2 with a 3.25 GAA and a .887 SV% in four games (two starts).
FAST FACTS: Minnesota is 20-14-5 in the last 10 seasons (2013-23) against Dallas…The Wild is 6-4-0 in the last 10 games against the Stars at Xcel Energy Center…Minnesota has points in 11 of the last 19 games (9-8-2) played at American Airlines Center…Minnesota was defeated by Dallas in six games in the 2016 First Round.
NOTES AND NUMBERS
Team: Earned a 3-2 double overtime victory in Game 1 at DAL (4/17) before falling 7-3 in Game 2 at DAL (4/19)
• Marcus Johansson and Frederick Gaudreau scored goals 11 seconds apart in the second period of Wednesday’s 7-3 loss. It marked the shortest time elapsed between two goals in franchise playoff history, besting the previous mark of 16 seconds set in Game 6 of the 2016 First Round, at DAL (4/24/16).
• The Wild played the longest contest in franchise history in Game 1, earning the win 32:20 into extra time. The previous mark was 28:06 on 5/10/03, a 1-0 double overtime loss vs. ANA (CF-Game 1)
• Minnesota recorded 48 shots on goal in Game 1, the second-highest postseason total in franchise history (52 SOG vs. STL, 4/12/17)
• The Wild is now 22-11 all-time in postseason games where they score the first goal
• Minnesota is appearing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the fourth consecutive season, 13th time in franchise history and the 10th time in the last 11 seasons Jonas Brodin: Appeared in his 63rd career Stanley Cup Playoff game in Game 2 at DAL (4/19), further extending his tie for the franchise record Marc-Andre Fleury: Has appeared in a Stanley Cup Playoff game for the 17th consecutive season, extending his own NHL record.
• Has tied Martin Brodeur and Patrick Roy for the most total playoff years (17) by an NHL goaltender. Filip Gustavsson: Made his Stanley Cup Playoff debut in Game 1 at DAL (4/17)
• Earned the win and set a Wild postseason record with 51 saves, besting the previous mark set by Niklas Backstrom (44 saves), 4/14/08 at COL (R1-Game 3)
• Per NHL Stats, became the fifth NHL goaltender to record 51-plus saves in his playoff debut (since 1955-56 when shots on goal were officially tracked). He joined Roberto Luongo (72 in Game 1 of 2007 CQF), Jean-Sebastien Giguere (63 in Game 1 of 2003 CQF), Jose Theodore (56 in Game 4 of 1997 CQF) and Jiri Crha (55 in Game 1 of 1980 PRLM). Ryan Hartman: Scored the first overtime goal of his Stanley Cup Playoff career in Game 1 at DAL (4/17)
• Became the 10th player in franchise history to score an OTG in the Stanley Cup Playoffs Kirill Kaprizov: Scored his 10th career postseason goal in Game 1 at DAL (4/17)
• Has recorded nine points (6-3=9) in his last seven postseason games
• Currently ranks fourth in franchise history in postseason goals
• With 10 goals through 15 career postseason games, his 0.67 goals-per-game average in the Stanley Cup Playoffs ranks first among all active NHL skaters Gustav Nyquist: Registered an assist in Game 1 and two assists in Game 2. Has now recorded a point or more in all five games played for Minnesota this season (1-4=5 in three regular-season games; 0-3=3 in two postseason games) Jared Spurgeon: Appeared in his 63rd career Stanley Cup Playoff game in Game 2 at DAL (4/19), further extending his tie for the franchise record
• Recorded an assist in Game 1 at DAL (4/17) to reach 28 career postseason points (8-20=28), tied with Mikko Koivu (11-17=28) for second-most in franchise history
• Needs one assist to tie Zach Parise for most in Wild postseason history Sam Steel: Made his Stanley Cup Playoff debut in Game 1 at DAL (4/17), recording two points (1-1=2).
• According to NHL Stats, became the only player in Wild history to record multiple points in their first career playoff game.
• According to NHL Stats, became the seventh player in team history to score a goal in his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut, following Matt Dumba (2015 R1), Erik Haula (2014 R1), Cal Clutterbuck (2013 CQF), Petteri Nummelin (2007 CQF), Marian Gaborik (2003 CQF) and Filip Kuba (2003 CQF) Oskar Sundqvist: With a goal in Game 2 at DAL (4/19), became the eighth player in franchise history to score a goal in his first playoff game with the Wild.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
DATE EVENT TIME INFO/LOCATION
Sat., April 22 Practice 11 a.m. TRIA Rink
Sun., April 23 Gm. 4 vs. Dallas 5:30 p.m. BSN/TBS/KFAN 100.3 FM
Mon., April 24 Practice 10:30 a.m. TRIA Rink
Tue., April 25 Gm. 5 at Dallas* TBD TBD
Wed., April 26 Media Avail. TBD Signature Flight Support MSP
Thu., April 27 Practice 10:30 a.m. TRIA RINK
Fri., April 28 Gm. 6 vs. Dallas* TBD TBD
Sat., April 29 Practice 10:30 a.m. TRIA Rink
Sun., April 30 Gm. 7 at Dallas* TBD TBD
INJURIES
Joel Eriksson Ek: lower body
Ryan Hartman: lower body
John Klingberg: lower body
Mason Shaw: torn ACL, out for season
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
April 11 – April 20, 2023
4/19/23 Recalled F Sammy Walker from Iowa
4/17/23 Recalled G Hunter Jones from Iowa
4/15/23 Reassigned F Nic Petan to Iowa
4/14/23 Reassigned F Damien Giroux, F Marco Rossi, F Nick Swaney and F Sammy Walker to Iowa
4/13/23 Recalled F Damien Giroux from Iowa
4/12/23 Recalled F Nick Swaney and F Sammy Walker from Iowa
POSTSEASON NOTES
• The Minnesota Wild clinched a postseason berth for the fourth straight season and 13th time in franchise history, including 10 of the last 11 seasons.
• Per NHL Stats, the Wild (2000-01) can become the first expansion franchise from the NHL, NBA, NFL or MLB to play its inaugural season in the 2000s or later and win a title. Only two clubs that have entered the NHL since the start of the 1990s have won a Stanley Cup: Tampa Bay (3) and Anaheim (1).
• Of the 26 players beginning the postseason on the Wild’s roster, eight had not appeared in a Stanley Cup Playoff Game with Minnesota: Brock Faber, Filip Gustavsson, John Klingberg, Gustav Nyquist, Ryan Reaves, Mason Shaw, Sam Steel and Oskar Sundqvist. Four players had not appeared in a Stanley Cup Playoff game: Faber, Gustavsson, Shaw and Steel. Faber, Gustavsson, Nyquist, Reaves and Steel all skated for the Wild in Game 1 at DAL (4/17).
• Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury is playing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the 17th consecutive season, extending his NHL record among goaltenders. Fleury has also tied Martin Brodeur and Patrick Roy for the most total playoff years among goaltenders.
• Fleury won a Stanley Cup alongside D Alex Goligoski and Wild general manager Bill Guerin with the 2009 Penguins. Fleury and Goligoski can become the third set of teammates in NHL history to win a Stanley Cup together with different franchises 14+ years apart – they would join Red Kelly and Marcel Pronovost (1950 DET & 1967 TOR) as well as Kelly, Pronovost and Terry Sawchuk (1952 DET & 1967 TOR)
• LW Kirill Kaprizov has 12 points (10-2=12) in 15 career playoff games, including a franchise-record seven (7-0=7) against St. Louis in the 2022 First Round.
• After recording a goal in Game 1 at DAL (4/17), Kaprizov became become the 10th player since 1943-44 to score 10 playoff goals in 14 career playoff games or fewer, joining Vladimir Tarasenko as the only players to do so in the past 32 years (per NHL Stats).
• D Jared Spurgeon (8-19—27 in 63 GP) is the franchise’s all-time leader for playoff goals, assists and points among defensemen, while
D Jonas Brodin (2-14—16 in 63 GP) and D Matt Dumba (5-10—15 in 45 GP) also rank among the top five on each of those lists (outright or tied). Spurgeon needs three postseason assists to pass Zach Parise (16-21=37) for most in franchise history
FINDING THEIR GROOVE
• Since March 1, the Wild held a 12-4-5 record and ranked seventh in the NHL in point percentage (.690) and was tied for eighth with 29 points.
• Since Feb. 11, Minnesota was tied for fourth in the NHL with 45 points (19-5-7), ranked fifth in point percentage (.726) and tied for fifth in wins.
• The Wild recorded a franchise-record 14-game point streak (11-0-3) from Feb. 17 to March 15. The streak is tied for the third-longest in the
NHL this season • Since Feb. 11, the Wild owned a .929 team save percentage and allowed 2.29 goals per game, each the second-lowest mark in the league
HOME SWEET HOME
• Dating back to Nov. 19th, Minnesota went 23-7-3 at home for a .742 point percentage, the third-most wins and home point percentage in the NHL during that span.
• The team recorded a seven-game home win streak from Nov. 27 – Dec. 18, the fourth-longest home win streak in the NHL this season.
• In home games since Nov. 19, the Wild allowed 2.18 goals per game and recorded a .925 save percentage, ranking second in the NHL in each category.
• Minnesota ranked tied for sixth in the NHL with a .659 home point percentage and tied for seventh with 25 home victories this season.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
• Minnesota recorded an 11-game road point streak (8-0-3) from 2/23 to 3/29, third-longest in franchise history and third-longest in the NHL this season.
• Since Feb. 23, the Wild was first in the NHL with a .927 road SV% and was third with a 2.53 road GAA.
ON THE POWER PLAY
• Minnesota set the single-season franchise record for power-play percentage (21.4 pct), converting 54 for 252 power-play opportunities
• The Wild converted 26.2 percent (33 of 126) of power-play opportunities at home this season, sixth-best in the NHL.
PENALTY KILLERS
• Recorded a streak of 27 consecutive successful penalty kills across 14 total games from 2/6 to 3/2. Did not allow a power-play goal in 12 consecutive games from 2/8 – 2/28, the longest streak in the NHL this season, tied for the longest streak in franchise history and tied for the 13th-longest streak in the NHL’s Expansion Era (since 1967-68 season).
• Allowed 20 opposing power-play goals on 118 opportunities (83.1 pct.) at home on the season, the seventh-best rate in the NHL
