Written by Allan Muir at SI.com
For five minutes, it looked like the Dallas Stars were going to blow the Minnesota Wild out of their own barn.
And then, out of nowhere, the Wild rediscovered their legs, their forecheck and their scoring touch, ending a seven-game losing streak with a 5–3 win in Game 3.
Patrick Sharp scored twice in a span of four minutes to stake the visitors to an early lead, but Minnesota changed its fortunes with a pair of last-minute goals. Chris Porter clicked on a pretty re-direct with 49.5 seconds left in the first period to cut the deficit to 2–1. Then, with 46.3 ticks remaining in the second, Jason Pominville buried a Nino Niederreiter rebound to give the Wild a 3–2 lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
For a team that had scored just three goals in its previous five games, the offensive outburst was unexpected but well earned. The Wild’s season hung on this contest, and after that slow start they played like it. They out-worked and out-executed the Stars in virtually every facet of the game.
The victory cuts Dallas’ series lead to 2–1. Game 4 is on Wednesday night in Minnesota.
Here are three thoughts on Monday’s game:
Biggest guns firing
Prior to Game 3, Minnesota coach John Torchetti challenged his best players to actually be his best players. They delivered.
Captain Mikko Koivu was a constant threat, using his size and determination to make his presence felt down low. He showed incredible patience on the game-winner, stickhandling a rebound in tight and waiting just long enough for Kari Lehtonen to commit before burying the shot. Pominville chipped in two goals, three points and a team-high five shots. Erik Haula and Niederreiter kept Dallas’s defenders on their heels with their blistering speed and combined for a goal and four points.
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