NHL Playoffs, Stars vs. Wild Game 6: Full highlights, recap

The Dallas Stars defeated the Minnesota Wild in Game 6 of their first round series, moving on to the second round of the NHL playoffs for the first time since 2008.

The Stars got the early advantage in Game 6, leading 3-0 by the end of the first period. At 5:56 into the first, John Klingberg earned his first goal of the postseason on a 5-on-3 power play.

Klingberg scores off a smooth one-timer. It’s 1-0 Stars in Game Six. pic.twitter.com/PIcjDqMNtI

Just three minutes later, Jason Spezza responded with another goal for Dallas, his fourth of the postseason. He was assisted by Mattias Janmark and Patrick Eaves.

A goal by Patrick Sharp capped the period. The left wing celebrated with his own rendition of ex-teammate Patrick Kane’s trademark move.

The Stars dominated not only offensively but behind the blue line as well, limiting the Wild to only six shots on goal in the entire first period. The Stars had about double that number, and three of them were successfully executed.  Consequently, the home team was actually booed off the ice–very much like the New York Rangers–instead of receiving loud encouragement from their fans. One can’t say whether it was demoralizing or motivating, but either way, it was embarrassing for the hosts.

The second period saw a much harder fight from the Wild, as only one goal was scored throughout the 20 minutes of play. Jamie Benn, assisted by Patrick Sharp and Jason Spezza, scired in the last 30 seconds of the period. 

Jamie Benn goes top shelf. It’s 4-0 Dallas after two periods in Minnesota. pic.twitter.com/10KWbqC5nN

Benn leads the league in the playoffs with nine points and is the 1st Stars player since Brenden Morrow in ’08 to record pts in 6 straight playoff games Benn is 5th in Dallas Stars–and Minnesota North Star–history with PTS in 6+ straight games to begin a postseason.

It took the Wild two full periods to score, but when they did, they did so with a vengeance. Minnesota put two pucks into the net just 16 seconds apart. Jared Spurgeon scored his first goal of the postseason on a power play,  and then Jonas Brodin scored his first career playoff goal just 16 seconds after Spurgeon’s goal. And if that wasn’t enough, Spurgeon scored again less than five minutes later on yet another power play.

That was three unanswered goals in 4:51, and the score was now 4-3 with 11:21 left in the third.

Yet, Alex Goligoski quickly killed the Wild’s dreams by scoring 10:28 into the final period. Jason Pominville responded at 15:13, but his effort was the final successful shot of the Wild. Minnesota goaltender Devan Dubnyk was pulled with about 90 seconds remaining in regulation.

Three Stars

C Mikko Koivu (WILD)
Koivu yet again proved his value to the Wild, adding two more assists to his postseason record.

C Jason Spezza (STARS)
Spezza added a goal to the game for Dallas, his fourth of the postseason. He also contributed three assists in Game 6.

D Jared Spurgeon
Spurgeon scored his first (and final) two goals of the postseason. Both were on Wild power plays.

Highlights

Period three was a chaotic mess that essentially handed the win to the Stars.

First, was the ugly goal shot by Goligoski but made possible by Dubnyk pushing that puck just a little further into the net…

If you look closely, it is definitely an own goal. 

Then Wild fans literally went wild because of questionable call made by game officials, even after there were video reviews. In Philly style, Minnesota fans actually threw money on the ice.

The Wild had a shot on goal that resulted in an intimate scramble at the net. The puck got lost in the mess, but officials needed a replay in order to determine the movement of the puck during the scram. Did Jason Demers of the Stars cover the puck with his hand? Did the puck fully cross the line?

The goal was millimeters from being a goal, but it was officially ruled a no-goal.

The buzzer then rang, and the Stars clinched their series win.

Next Game

The Dallas Stars move on in the playoffs to face the winner of the Chicago Blackhawks vs. St. Louis Blues series, which is now tied at 3. The decisive Game 7 in that series will be on Monday, April 25 at 8:30 PM ET on NBC Sports Network.