Minnesota's power play built the lead; Minnesota's goaltending gave it back β Dallas simply needed even strength to win.
Dallas erased a two-goal deficit in the third period because Minnesota's goaltending bled margins the Wild's power play couldn't fully cover. A 5-4 regulation win for the Stars locks up a two-point edge in the Central standings with the playoffs approaching.
β‘TURNING POINT
Rantanen's equalizer at 4:28 of the third neutralized a 4-2 Minnesota lead built almost entirely on special teams, forcing Dallas to play from parity rather than desperation. Once the lead was gone, Minnesota had no power-play cushion left to fall back on β Robertson's winner four minutes later was the consequence.
πWHY DAL WON
β’
Dallas scored all five goals at even strength, eliminating their penalty-kill liability by converting 5v5 opportunities Minnesota's goaltending couldn't contain.
β’
Gustavsson conceded 3.00 goals above league-average on 20 shots β in a one-goal game, that margin was the difference between a Wild win and a collapse.
β’
Lindell's +4, paired with 2 primary assists and 25:03 of ice time, anchored Dallas's defensive structure while generating transition offense.
πWHY MIN LOST
β’
A 3-for-10 power play produced three goals but masked a 0-for-5 even-strength period from the Wild in the third β when the penalties dried up, so did the offense.
β’
Minnesota took 20 penalty minutes against a Dallas team that converted all five 5v5 goals, repeatedly gifting the Stars favorable ice conditions.
β’
Gustavsson's +3.00 margin above average on only 20 shots is a catastrophic rate in a five-goal game; the Wild's shot volume advantage (31 vs. 20) did not compensate.
Three Stars
Colin Blackwell1st
DAL, C
1G 1A 2P+/- +2TOI 9:56
Produced two points in under ten minutes of ice time, with his assist on C. Hughes's tying goal swinging the second period back to Dallas.
Kirill Kaprizov2nd
MIN, L
2G 0A 2P4 SOGTOI 23:00
Both goals came on the power play, and without his production Minnesota never holds a multi-goal lead entering the third.
Jason Robertson3rd
DAL, L
1G 0A 1P+/- +1TOI 16:14
His even-strength goal at 10:35 of the third was the game-winner, converting Dallas's post-equalizer pressure into the decisive margin.
