Early morning heartbreak for Wild, who drop Game 3 in second OT

But the Stars doubled their lead on a 2-on-1 rush to the net when Jason Robertson zipped a wrist shot past the goalie on the glove side.

The Wild gave their late-night crowd a reason to roar in the final two minutes of the opening period, on their first power play of the night. Bobby Brink few Johansson, alone 15 feet out from the crease and his shot found the back of the net. For Brink, the Minnetonka native acquired at the trade deadline, it was his first career playoff point.

Boldly returned for the second period, with an exclamation point, setting up Minnesota’s tying goal by weaving around four Dallas challengers, and pulling Oettinger outside the crease, before passing to Eriksson Ek who had a gaping open net to hit for his third goal of the playoffs.

With the Wild killing a penalty, Marcus Foligno blocked a Matt Duchene shot, then was pushed face-first into the ice by Duchene’s follow-through, coming up bloody and steaming mad. Originally called a major penalty on Duchene, officials reviewed the play and then said there was no infraction, although Duchene heard plenty of invective from the crowd.

Minnesota was already down a man when Boldy’s clearing attempt sailed over the end glass, giving Dallas 41 seconds of 5-on-3 advantage. The Wild killed both penalties, then took their first lead just seconds after Boldy got out of the box when McCarron zipped a shot past Oettinger on the blocker side. It was the first career playoff goal for McCarron.

In the third, the Wild had a pair of power plays early in the period but failed to create any breathing room. Their best chance came while shorthanded when Boldy and Eriksson Ek had a 2-on-1 rush to the net but couldn’t get a loose puck over the line.

Later in that same power play, Dallas tied it up with the Wild scrambling for position in front of their own crease. Duchene, who had prevented the shorthanded goal at the other end of the rink, scored the equalizer.

Minnesota was the aggressor in overtime, controlling the play for long stretches, and getting an extra session power play when Quinn Hughes was tripped while cutting to the net. Dallas killed that one but went back to the penalty box in the final minute of the first overtime.

In the second overtime, the Wild were whistled for two penalties. They killed the first one, but Dallas ended it with the second.

The Wild were without Zuccarello for the second consecutive game, and without forward Yakov Trenin after he left Game 2 in the first period following a hard open-ice hit by Stars forward Colin Blackwell. Brink made his second playoff appearance and Nico Sturm made his first in their absence. Both Zuccarello and Trenin are dealing with upper body injuries.

Game 4 is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. on Saturday in St. Paul.

Briefly

For Trenin, it was the first game in either the regular season or playoffs that he had missed. He was the only member of the Wild to skate in all 82 regular season games.

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