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 Wild 5, Stars 1
Game 4 Sun, April 23 5:30 p.m. Dallas at Minnesota Xcel Energy Center Stars 3, Wild 2
Game 5 Tue, April 25 7 p.m. Minnesota at Dallas American Airlines Center Stars 4, Wild 0
Game 6 Fri, April 28 8:30 p.m. Dallas at Minnesota Xcel Energy Center BSSW (National: TBS)/WBAP
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)
April 26 – Loaned forward Riley Tufte to 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
Game 3: April 21, 2023 – STARS 1 at WILD 5 | Minnesota leads series 2-1
Forward Luke Glendening (1-0—1) scored his fourth career postseason goal in a 5-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild in Game 3 at Xcel Energy Center. Forward Joel Kiviranta (0-1—1) picked up his second assist of the playoffs and Radek Faksa (0- 1—1) got his first point of the postseason with assists on Glendening’s first goal of the series. The Stars were held without a power-play goal for the first time in the series (0-for-2). Goaltender Jake Oettinger made 20 saves on 24 shots in the loss.
PP: 0-2 | PK: 3-4 | SF: 24 | SA: 25 | DAL TOI: M. Heiskanen (27:00 – game high) | Attendance: 19,331
Three Stars: 1. MIN – M. Zuccarello 2. MIN – M. Foligno 3. MIN – R. Hartman
Game 4: April 23, 2023 – STARS 3 at WILD 2 | Series tied 2-2
With two power-play goals from forward Tyler Seguin (2-0—2), a herculean effort from goaltender Jake Oettinger (33 saves), three assists from forward Roope Hintz (0-3—3) and a tally from forward Evgenii Dadonov (1-0—1), the Stars came away with a 3-2 victory in Game 4 at Xcel Energy Center to even the series at two games apiece. Staying true to the series, the team that scored first won the game as Seguin broke a scoreless tie at the 15:42 mark of the second period with his second goal of the playoffs. Then, three minutes into the third, Dadonov potted his third goal of the series to double the lead. After former Stars defenseman John Klingberg got the Wild to within one, Seguin struck again with the man advantage with 3:31 remaining in regulation.
PP: 2-3 | PK: 3-4 | SF: 24 | SA: 35 | DAL TOI: M. Heiskanen (26:22 – game high) | Attendance: 19,309
Three Stars: 1. DAL – J. Oettinger 2. DAL – T. Seguin 3. MIN – J. Klingberg
Game 5: April 25, 2023 – STARS 4 vs. WILD 0 | Stars lead series 3-2
A red-hot power play that’s been so crucial for the Stars throughout the series delivered yet again in Game 5 with the game’s first two goals in an eventual 4-0 victory over Minnesota at American Airlines Center. Forward Tyler Seguin (1-0—1) scored his fourth power-play goal of the series (more on that under Dallas Stars Notes), forward Roope Hintz (0-3—3) recorded his third three-point game of the series, forward Jason Robertson (1-1—2) registered a multi-point performance and goaltender Jake Oettinger became the first goalie to record a shutout in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs with a 27-save effort in between the pipes. Dallas went 2-for-6 on the power play and 3-for-3 on the penalty kill.
PP: 2-6 | PK: 3-3 | SF: 25 | SA: 27 | DAL TOI: M. Heiskanen (28:20 – game high) | Attendance: 18,532 (sellout)
Three Stars: 1. DAL – J. Oettinger 2. DAL – T. Seguin 3. DAL – R. Hintz
DALLAS STARS NOTES
TONIGHT’S GAME: Holding a 3-2 series lead, the Stars have a chance to close out their First Round series against the Minnesota Wild tonight in Game 6 at Xcel Energy Center. (8:30 p.m. CT, TV: BSSW, TBS, Radio: WBAP 820). The Stars took hold of the series with a pivotal 4-0 victory in Game 5 on Tuesday night at American Airlines Center and have a chance to advance to beyond the opening round for the first time since their run to the 2020 Stanley Cup Final. If Minnesota prevails tonight, the series will return to Dallas for a winner-take-all Game 7 on Sunday.
POSTSEASON NOTES
- 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 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).
- Defenseman Miro Heiskanen (9-30—39 in 52 GP) has the seventh-best points-per-game among active defensemen in the postseason (min. 10 GP). He ranks fourth in franchise history for playoff points by defensemen; he can also ascend lists for goals and assists.
- Captain Jamie Benn (21-34—55 in 71 GP) is one of 11 players in franchise history with 21 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 (64-62—126) 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 (169 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 regular-season 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).
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 C
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.
• The Minnesota Wild is appearing in the postseason 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).
• 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 18 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 (8-21—28 in 66 GP) is the franchise’s all-time leader for playoff goals, assists and points among defensemen, while D Jonas Brodin (2-14—16 in 66 GP) and D Matt Dumba (5-10—15 in 48 GP) also rank among the top five on each of those lists (outright or tied). Spurgeon needs one postseason assist to pass Zach Parise (16- 21=37) for most in franchise history.
• Marcus Johansson and Frederick Gaudreau scored goals 11 seconds apart in the second period of Game 2. 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).
• C Oskar Sundqvist became the eighth player in franchise history to score a goal in his first playoff game with the Wild, doing so in Game 2 at DAL (4/19). • C 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, he became the only player in Wild history to record multiple points in their first career playoff game and is 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).
• 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, Klingberg, Nyquist, Reaves, Steel and Sundqvist have now all skated for the Wild in the Round 1 series.
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
