MINNESOTA WILD NOTES:
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.
INJURIES
Joel Eriksson Ek: lower body
Mason Shaw: torn ACL, out for season
Oskar Sundqvist: lower body
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
April 7 – April 16, 2023
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
4/9/23 Signed D Brock Faber to a three-year, entry-level contract
4/9/23 Recalled F Nic Petan and F Marco Rossi from Iowa
POSTSEASON PREVIEW
• 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 have 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 have not appeared in a Stanley Cup Playoff game: Faber, Gustavsson, Shaw and Steel.
• Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury is set to play in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the 17th consecutive season, which would extend his NHL record among goaltenders. Fleury would also tie 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 11 points (9-2=11) in 13 career playoff games, including a franchise-record seven (7-0=7) against St. Louis in the 2022 First Round. Per NHL Stats, Kaprizov can become the 10th player since 1943-44 to score 10 playoff goals in 14 career playoff games or fewer, and join Vladimir Tarasenko as the only players to do so in the past 32 years.
• D Jared Spurgeon (8-19—27 in 61 GP) is the franchise’s all-time leader for playoff goals, assists and points among defensemen, while D Jonas Brodin (2-14—16 in 61 GP) and D Matt Dumba (5-8—13 in 43 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 ranks seventh in the NHL in point percentage (.690) and is 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 is 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
COOL UNDER PRESSURE
LOCK-DOWN DEFENSE
• Minnesota went 42-7-8 (.807) this season when obtaining a lead at any point in the game, the seventh-best point percentage in the NHL in such situations.
• The Wild was 31-0-3 (.956) this season when leading through two periods, the third-best point percentage in the NHL.
• Minnesota was 15-1-11 (.759) this season in games that become tied with less than five minutes left in regulation, tied for the fifth-most victories in the NHL.
• Minnesota conceded less than two goals in 27 games this season, second-most the NHL. The Wild holds a 24-1-2 record when allowing less than two goals.
• In 56 games since Dec. 10, the Wild posted a 2.43 GA/Gm average, the second-best mark in the NHL during that span.
SHORT (HANDED) KINGS
• Minnesota ranked third in the NHL with 14 shorthanded goals (SHG) this season.
• The Wild scored its 14th SHG of the season at CHI (4/10), breaking the franchise’s previous single-season record set in the 2000-01 season.
• Minnesota recorded two SHG in a single game twice a 10-day span (3/29 at COL, 4/8 vs. STL) after doing so only three times previously in franchise history.
• The Wild scored two SHG in a 20-second span (11:17, 11:37 in the first period) vs. STL (4/8), marking the franchise’s first time scoring multiple shorthanded goals in a 20-second span. The last NHL team to do so was Boston on 4/10/10 (15 second differential).
FREE HOCKEY, PLEASE
• This season Minnesota had 12 victories in games decided past regulation, tied for seventh-most in the NHL.
• The Wild’s seven shootout victories this season led the NHL.
• Minnesota skaters scored shootout goals on 21 of 44 attempts (47.7 pct.), leading the NHL in total shootout goals and in shootout percentage (min. 10 shootout attempts).
• Freddy Gaudreau led the NHL with eight shootout goals this season, while Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello were tied for second with five shootout goals each. Since the start of the 2021-22 season, Gaudreau is second in the NHL with nine shootout goals, while Kaprizov and Zuccarello are tied for third with seven shootout goals.
• Since the start of the 2021-22 season, Minnesota leads the NHL with 28 victories in extra-session games, three more than the next-closest franchise (Colorado, 25 extra-session wins).
DALLAS STARS NOTES:
LAST DALLAS STARS GAME
April 13, 2023 – STARS 1 vs. BLUES 0
Led by a shutout performance from goaltender Jake Oettinger, the Stars closed out the 2022-23 regular season with a 1-0 victory over the St. Louis Blues in front of a sellout crowd of 18,532 at American Airlines Center. Rookie Wyatt Johnston tallied his 24th goal, placing him in a tie with Seattle’s Matty Beniers for the most goals by a rookie this season. Dallas completed the back-to-back home-and-home sweep of the Blues, winning the opener 5-2 at Enterprise Center the night before.
PP: 0-2 | PK: 2-2 | SF: 34 | SA: 25 | DAL TOI: M. Heiskanen (24:15 – game high) | Attendance: 18,532 (sellout)
Three Stars: 1. DAL – J. Oettinger 2. DAL – W. Johnston 3. STL – J. Binnington
FIRST ROUND SERIES SCHEDULE
Date Time (CT) DAL [C2] vs. MIN [C3] Location TV/Radio
Game 1 Mon, April 17 8:30 p.m. Minnesota at Dallas American Airlines Center BSSW, ESPN2/KTCK
Game 2 Wed, April 19 8:30 p.m. Minnesota at Dallas American Airlines Center BSSW, ESPN2/KTCK
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)
INJURIES
Man-games lost, 2023 playoffs: 0
DALLAS STARS NOTES
TONIGHT’S GAME: The Stars open their 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs First Round series against the Minnesota Wild at American Airlines Center. (8:30 p.m. CT, TV: BSSW, ESPN2, Radio: The Ticket 96.7-FM/1310-AM). Dallas finished the 2022-23 regular season in second place in the Central Division with 108 points (47-21-14). Minnesota finished in third place in the Central with 103 points (46-25-11). Games 1 and 2 will take place at American Airlines Center while Games 3 and 4 will shift to Xcel Energy Center. If the series extends further, Game 5 will be in Dallas, Game 6 will take place in St. Paul and Game 7 will return to AAC in a winner-take-all matchup.
THINGS ARE GETTING WILD OVER HERE
- The Stars square off against the Minnesota Wild tonight in Game 1 of the Western Conference First Round.
- 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.
- Captain Jamie Benn led the team in scoring during the 2016 First Round series against Minnesota with four goals and 10 points (4-6–10) in six games.
- Forward Radek Faksa had two points (1-1–2) in the six-game series vs. Minnesota.
- Tyler Seguin appeared in one game against the Wild, going scoreless.
ENTERING THE POSTSEASON
- The Stars are in the postseason for a second straight year, 18th time since relocating to Dallas in 1993-94 and 35th time in franchise history. Dallas became the 10th team to clinch a berth in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
- The Stars are looking for their 20th series win since relocation (19-16; .543 series W%) and to advance past the opening round for the first time since their run to the 2020 Stanley Cup Final. They have required at least six games in 13 of their last 14 Stanley Cup Playoffs series dating to the 2007 Conference Quarterfinals.
- Goaltender Jake Oettinger enters the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs after a 64-save performance for the Stars in Game 7 of the 2022 First Round when he became the second goaltender on record to post 60+ saves in a Game 7. Oettinger, 24, can become the second goaltender in franchise history to win a series-clinching game before his 25th birthday (Don Beaupre: age 19: Game 5 of 1981 QF; age 22: Game 5 of 1984 DSF & Game 7 of 1984 DF).
- Forward Jason Robertson (Arcadia, Calif.) can become the third different California-born Stanley Cup winner in NHL history, joining Brooks Orpik (2009 PIT & 2018 WSH) and Scott Parker (2001 COL). Robertson recorded four points (1-3—4) in seven games during the 2022 First Round vs. Calgary.
- Defenseman Miro Heiskanen (9-24—33 in 47 GP; 0.70 P/GP) has a share of the fifth-best points-per-game among active defensemen in the postseason (min. 10 GP). He needs six points to climb three spots into sole possession of fourth place in franchise history for playoff points by defensemen; he can also ascend lists for goals and assists.
- Captain Jamie Benn (20-31—51 in 66 GP) is one of 12 players in franchise history with 20 career playoff goals and one of eight with at least 50 points, highlighted by a 19-point performance (8-11—19) in 2020 when he finished fourth in team scoring. With another double-digit performance in 2023, Benn (3x) can join Mike Modano (7x) and Bobby Smith (4x) as the third player in franchise history with at least four postseasons with 10 or more points.
- Forward Joe Pavelski (64-61—125) has the fourth-most postseason points among U.S.-born players, behind Mike Modano (58-88—146 in 176 GP), Chris Chelios (31-113—144 in 266 GP), and Patrick Kane (52-80—132 in 136 GP). Pavelski’s 64 goals are the most among U.S.-born players and the fourth most among active skaters. He also ranks third among players drafted in the seventh round or later for career playoff points, behind Doug Gilmour (60-128—188 in 182 GP) and Luc Robitaille (58-69—127 in 159 GP).
- Pavelski (168 GP) is one of five players in NHL history to appear in 165+ playoff games without yet hoisting the Cup (or who retired without one); the others are Patrick Marleau (195), Joe Thornton (187), Dale Hunter (186) and Steve Thomas (174). To date, the three highest playoff game counts before winning a championship are 214 (Ray Bourque, 2001 COL), 169 (Glen Wesley, 2006 CAR) and 162 (Dave Andreychuk, 2004 TBL). Pavelski ranks third in terms of regularseason games played for active players who have yet to win.
- Forward Tyler Seguin is the only Dallas player with a Stanley Cup, winning as a 20-year-old with Boston in 2011 (3-4—7 in 13 GP). He can become the fourth player in the NHL’s expansion era (since 1967-68) to win a Cup at age 20 or younger and at age 30 or older – only Greg Gilbert (1982 NYI & 1994 NYR), Claude Lemieux (1986 MTL, 1996 COL & 2000 NJD) and Patrick Roy (1986 MTL, 1996 COL & 2001 COL) have done so in that timeframe.
- Head coach Peter DeBoer, in his first season with Dallas, has advanced past the opening round in his first postseason behind the bench with three franchises (2012 w/ NJD, 2016 w/ SJS & 2020 w/ VGK). Two head coaches in NHL history have won a series in their first postseason with four clubs: Alain Vigneault (1998 w/ MTL, 2007 w/ VAN, 2014 w/ NYR & 2020 w/ PHI) and Roger Neilson (1978 w/ TOR, 1981 w/ BUF, 1982 w/ VAN, 1990 w/ NYR).
- The Stars/North Stars franchise has advanced to the Stanley Cup Final five times, twice while based in Minnesota and three times in Dallas. They stand as one of two non-Original Six franchises with a Final berth in four different decades (1980s, 1990s, 2000s & 2020s), alongside Philadelphia (1970s, 1980s, 1990s & 2010s).
