Knight Time Hockey: 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Review: (C1) Dallas Stars vs. (M2) Minnesota Wild

The battle of Minnesota (old and new). The old was in control for the majority of the series, as the Dallas Stars showed why they were the top team in the West. They also showed that they were flawed in the series, giving up four goals in three of the six games. To Minnesota's credit, they were resilient, and managed to keep the games close on the scoreboard (outside of Game One). The better team would win out though. The Dallas Stars eliminated the Minnesota Wild in six games.

Games

Minnesota Wild 0 - Dallas Stars 4

From the get-go, it was Dallas in control. Even with three powerplay in the period though, Dallas could not find the back of the net. Patrick Sharp had the best shot on one of them, but his one-timer rang off the crossbar. The Stars outshot the Wild 14-2 in the first, but the score remained 0-0. Dallas finally broke through early in the second. Ales Hemsky cause a turnover and skated into the Wild zone. He fed a trailing Radek Faksa, who wrist it over Devan Dubnyk to make it 1-0 Stars. Hemsky had a solo chance of his own minutes later, but Dubnyk came out and poked the puck off his stick. Dallas did get another goal though, as Jason Spezza faked a slapshot and wrist it past Dubnyk. Elbow penalties were exchanged, but neither powerplay didn't do much. Dallas ended the second period up 2-0. The shots were pretty even in the third, but goals were not scored until later in the period. A Stars powerplay late in the third saw Spezza's point shot get stopped. but Patrick Eaves was there to bang home the rebound. Jamie Benn capped off the scoring minutes later with an empty netter. Kari Lehtonen stopped 22 shots in the shutout effort. Dallas won the first game 4-0, taking a 1-0 lead in the series.

Minnesota Wild 1 - Dallas Stars 2

The first period of this game was much better for Minnesota. A minute into it, Nino Niederreiter was sprung on a breakaway. His shot was stopped though, as Lehtonen blockered it aside. Dallas still dominated the shot counter, but this time Minnesota put up more than a handful of shots. Dallas led 14-7 in shots after 20 minutes, but the score remained 0-0. Just minutes into the second, Dallas would score the weirdest goal of these playoffs (and maybe hockey history). A clearing attempt by Marco Scandella hit Hensky's skate, then bounced off Antoine Roussel's skate and popped up in the air. The puck came down, bounced off Dubnyk's back and just past the line. A lengthy review was needed to figure out what the hell just happened (and to see if the puck crossed the line before the net came off its moorings). It was determined to be a goal, resulting in Dallas going up 1-0. Midway through the period, Ryan Carter would bump into Kari Lehtonen during a TV timeout, resulting in Carter getting a tem minute misconduct. Shots for the period actually favoured the Wild (by one), but the score was 1-0 for the Stars after the second. Minnesota looked to have caught a break early in the third when they received a powerplay, but could not capitalize on it. Midway though the period, Jamie Benn was sprung on a breakaway. He would cut in and slide the puck five-hole on Dubnyk, making it 2-0 Stars. Seconds later, Johnny Oduya was called for holding Charlie Coyle's stick. This time, the Wild would score on the man advantage. Scandella's point shot found it's way pasty Lehtonen and into the net. Minnesota pressured for a tying goal. Once they had the extra attacker, they fired everything on the Dallas net. Lehtonen would not give another one up though. Dallas hung on to win the game 2-1, extending their series lead to 2-0.

Dallas Stars 3 - Minnesota Wild 5

Game Three started differently, as in there were goals in the first period. Just 26 seconds into the game, Patrick Sharp tipped Alex Goligoski's shot past Dubnyk to put the Stars on the board. Sharp was at it again minutes later, this time coming in on the wing and snapping it under Dubnyk's glove to make it 2-0. Play was pretty even until late in the first, when the Wild went on the attack. They failed to score on the powerplay, but it didn't take long after that to score. Chris Porter got his stick on Erik Haula's point shot and redirected it into the net. The period ended with Dallas up 2-1. Minnesota kept up the pressure to start the second, and it would pay off. This time, it was Haula who would tip a shot that beat Lehtonen. The goal tied the game 2-2. Play would sway in Dallas' favour, as they weren't satisfied with a tied game. Late in the period, Coyle and Jamie Benn would both get roughing penalties, making it 4-on-4. This would be beneficial for the Wild, as Jason Pominville tucked home a rebound to put the Wild up 3-2. The period ended minutes later, with the Wild holding the lead. A powerplay early in the third helped the Wild extend their lead. Mikko Koivu slipped a rebound past Lehtonen to put Minnesota up by two. It took a while for Dallas to respond. Jason Demers point shot hit Colton Sceviour on its way into the net. A coach's challenge was used, as Mattias Janmark looked to have bumped Dubnyk on the goal. The challenge was unsuccessful, and Dallas' goal stood. The Stars' push to tie the game, but could not get the equalizer. Pominville's empty net goal sealed the game, as Minnesota won 5-2. The win closed the series gap for the Wild, who were now down 2-1 in the series.

Dallas Stars 3 - Minnesota Wild 2

Dallas shook it up in net before the game, as Antti Niemi would get his first start of the series. It was tale of to halves. Minnesota controlled play for the first half, with Dallas earning most of the shot attempts in the second. Though both teams had chances, both would play 20 minutes without a goal being scored. The Wild came out firing in the second, but it took a little while until they broke through. Niederreiter's rebound shot bounced off Pominville's shin and into the Stars net, putting the Wild up 1-0. Minutes later, Dallas was on the powerplay, as Matt Dumba was sent to the box for flipping the puck over the glass. The Stars capitalized on the man advantage. Hemsky blasted one over a screened Dubnyk to tie the game. It didn't take long for the Wild to respond. Charlie Coyle fended off a check on a partial breakaway and tucked the puck past Niemi's outstretched pad to put Minnesota back in the lead. Minutes later, Dallas was back on the powerplay. This time, it was Eaves time to score, as he tipped the puck underneath Dubnyk's glove. It was back-and-forth for a little bit, but another goal would not be scored until late in the period. Just over a minute left in the second, Demers' pass deflected off Spezza's skate and floated into the Wild net. The second period ended with Dallas up 3-2. The third period was mostly the Wild's, as they pushed for the tying goal. They only caught one break in the period, with Roussel getting a double-minor for high-sticking. Even with an extra attacker as well (Dubnyk was pulled, making it a 6-on-4), Minnesota ran out of time. Dallas won 3-2, pushing Minnesota to the brink of elimination.

Minnesota Wild 5 - Dallas Stars 4 (OT)

It didn't take long for Minnesota to open the scoring in this one. Mikael Granlund collected a loose puck in the slot and tried to deke out Niemi. His first attempt was unsuccessful, but he managed to get the rebound the jam it home. Just two minutes later, Jordan Schroeder buried a rebound to make it 2-0 Wild. The Stars started to take over from there, trying to find a way to break the shutout. Tensions would rise a bit, as Roussel and Dumba were both penalized for roughing. A Wild penalty shortly after made it a 4-on-3 for the Stars. Unfortunately, Dallas could not find the back of the net. Dallas would push on, and eventually found their way onto the scoreboard. Late in the period, Johnny Oduya's point shot sailed into the Wild net. The first period ended with Minnesota up 2-1. Dallas got an early powerplay in the second, but again they failed to convert on the man advantage. Shots were exchanged in the second, but the score remained the same. Minnesota was still in the lead 2-1 through 40 minutes. Dallas came out on the attack in the third, and it didn't take long for it to pay off, as Jamie Benn deked out Dubnyk to tie the game. Less than a minute later, Niederreiter deked out Niemi on a partial breakaway to put Minnesota back in the lead. Once again down by a goal, Dallas pressed to again find a tying goal. Midway through the period, Spezza would spin and throw the puck at the net. It worked, as it beat Dubnyk to tie the game. Just 28 seconds later, Goligoski's shot deflected off a couple of defenders and into the Wild net, putting the Stars in the lead. The lead didn't slow Dallas down, as they kept firing in hopes to extend it. Dubnyk would not allow that to happen, stopping everything thrown at him. Minnesota managed to tie the game late in the period. Koivu snapped a shot over Niemi to tie the game 4-4. The Stars pushed to break the deadlock late, but to no avail. Regulation ended at a 4-4 tie, meaning overtime was needed to decide the game. Just five minutes into the extra period, Ryan Suter's point shot was tipped by Koivu and past Niemi. Minnesota won the game 5-4 in overtime, keeping them from being eliminated for one more game.

Dallas Stars 5 - Minnesota Wild 4

Kari Lehtonen returned to the Stars net to start the game. It was mostly Dallas in the first period. They would get a penalty two minutes in the game for too many men, but managed to kill the penalty. Then, it was the Stars turn to go on the powerplay. In a span of less than a minute, the Wild would commit two penalties, making it 5-on-3 for the Stars. John Klingberg's one-timer beat Dubnyk, putting Dallas up 1-0. The Stars kept it up, looking to extend their lead. Midway through the period, Spezza backhanded a rebound past Dubnyk, making it 2-0. Minnesota would go almost eight minutes without a shot on net, as Dallas was all over them. The Stars added one more late in the first, with Sharp keeping on a 2-on-2 rush and beating Dubnyk's blocker. Dallas ended the period up 3-0. Dallas started the second period strong, but play soon shifted over to Minnesota. The Wild's best chance was later in the period, but Niederreiter's breakaway attempt was kicked aside by Lehtonen. Jamie Benn scored before the end of the period, as he picked a corner over Dubnyk's shoulder. The Stars were up 4-0 after 40 minutes, and were just a period away from advancing. Minnesota started the third period a bit slow, but would pick it up, as they looked to come back. Their did pay off, as Jared Spurgeon jammed home a rebound on a powerplay to put the Wild on the board. Just 16 seconds later, Jonas Brodin finished off a pass from Haula, as Minnesota now found themselves down by two goals. Keeping in control, the Wild would earn another powerplay. Spurgeon was there once again on the man advantage, this time one-timing a shot past Lehtonen. The Stars caught a break midway through the period. Goligoski's shot was deflected and popped up in the air. It ended up coming down in the crease and bouncing into the net, beating a confused Dubnyk, as he lost sight of the puck. Minnesota pushed to once again get to within a goal. Just under five minutes left, Pominville tucked one in from the side of the net. Needing just one more goal to tie the game, the Wild kept up the pressure. It looked like Minnesota scored very late in the period, but replay showed that Lehtonen stopped the puck just before it could fully crossed the line. Dallas hung on for the remainder of the game, and ended up winning 5-4. The win made the series 4-2 in Dallas' favour, as they eliminated Minnesota in six games.

Three Thoughts on the Series

Have to give credit to the Wild, they managed to hang on for longer than expected.
Feel sorry for Wild fans. The puck was so, soooo, soooooooo close to being in.
Dallas didn't really need Seguin for this series. The next one though....

Picture of the Series

Jamie Benn taking time out of a shift to get a picture.