Scheduled Tribe. Paul, Minn.– quinn hughes led minnesota Wild scored twice, leading with their first playoff series win in 11 years win 5-2 Above dallas stars Thursday night in Game 6.
Minnesota will face the Presidents Trophy winner colorado In the second round. Haven’t played since sweeping the Avalanche los angeles On Sunday.
The Wild won a playoff series for the first time in 10 tries since 2015. They lost to Dallas in the first round in 2016 and 2023.
“When we scored our fourth goal I looked at our fans, I looked back in the mirror and I saw someone crying in the stands,” he said. jesper wallstadWho made 22 saves. “I realize how big this is for our fan base. Not just us but there are so many other people who have been with us on this road and this journey. The excitement and joy of getting past the first round is huge.”
After Hughes broke the tie midway through the third period, matt boldy He sealed it by scoring his team-leading fifth and sixth goals in the series into an empty net. Vladimir Tarasenko Also scored.
The fourth line of the Foligno brothers, Marcus and Nick, and Nico Sturm Minnesota had 15 of 32 hits.
“If you ask everybody on this team, in this group, and everybody feels something special,” said Kirill KaprizovWho had two goals and seven assists in the series. “We just build all season, and the guys who came in for the playoffs did a great job. When a team wants to go long, it takes all four lines in the game.”
Hughes, acquired from Vancouver in December in the largest deal in franchise history, took a shot from the left point that deflected off the skates of a Stars defenceman. Ilya Lyubushkin and last goalkeeper Jake Ottinger. Hughes also cooperated.
“Big-time players move on to big-time games and that’s what he did,” the fellow defenseman said. brock faber Said.
All three wild goals came at full strength. Minnesota outshot Dallas 17-5 at even strength in the series, including 12-4 at 5-on-5.
“A lot of you are going to look at the 5-on-5 scoring, but the reality is field-wise in this series, I think it was pretty even,” Stars coach Glenn Gulutzan said. “I also give us the territorial advantage, but we didn’t defend well enough.”
wyat johnson And maverick bourke Scored for Dallas. Johnson had his league-high 10th power-play goal of the postseason for the Stars. Minnesota had three power-play goals in the series.
Hughes opened the scoring in the first period and Johnson converted a pass on goal. Mikko Rantanen on a power-play goal to tie it in the second.
An accidental bounce off the end board found Bourke, who took a quick step before getting to his forehand for an easy goal with 3:42 left in the second minute.
Tarasenko answered for Minnesota 54 seconds later. He gave himself a redirected shot and scored the 50th goal of his career in the postseason on a backhander while falling to his knees.
“Vladi has already won two Stanley Cups,” Kaprizov said. “He knows what you need to do in the playoffs.”
