5 NHL games and players you NEED to watch this Saturday

14 October 2016: Calgary Flames Left Wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) and Edmonton Oilers Defenceman Darnell Nurse (25) gets in a fight during an NHL Hockey game between the Calgary Flames and the Edmonton Oilers at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, AB. (Photo by Jose Quiroz/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

2 of 5

DALLAS, TX – NOVEMBER 21: Minnesota Wild Right Wing Chris Stewart (7) and Dallas Stars Defenceman Jamie Oleksiak (5) get fighting major penalties during the NHL game between the Minnesota Wild and Dallas Stars on November 21, 2016, at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX. (Photo by Andrew Dieb/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Minnesota Wild vs. Dallas Stars

Channel: FSN+, FSW+

Live Stream: Fubo.tv

Time: 8 p.m. ET

In a key Central Division matchup, the Minnesota Wild will look to put what could be the final nail in the coffin regarding the Dallas Stars’ playoff hopes.

Backed by some decent hockey through March, the 6-4-3 Wild team has found its way to the third and final spot atop the NHL’s Central Division. The Stars, meanwhile, are slumping at the wrong time. With a 3-7-4 record during the month of March, the Stars have begun to see their playoff hopes dwindle. They currently sit five points back of the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference.

The Wild and Stars have met twice on the season, each team winning a game on home ice. They play against each other twice more on the year, in a home and home series that kicks off Thursday night in Minnesota.

This is crunch time for the Stars, and they realistically need to win every game moving forward if they want to have a chance at a playoff berth. Look for Dallas to come out of the gate flying in a crucial Saturday game Saturday night.

Player to watch: Tyler Seguin

DALLAS, TX – MARCH 25: Tyler Seguin /

In the previous two meetings between the Stars and Wild, Tyler Seguin has compiled 5 points. He leads the Stars in points on the season, with 73 in 77 games, and averages 20.49 minutes of ice time per game, a team high among forwards. Seguin needs to be at his best if the Stars are going to beat the Wild and make a late-season playoff push.

Home/NHL