Five thoughts from Stars-Wild, Game 3: Dallas grabs momentum with thrilling 2OT victory

Wyatt Johnston lifts Stars to victory after a late night

The Stars have scored six power play goals in three games this series, but Johnston’s goal just before 1 a.m. local time Thursday was certainly the biggest. The Stars had their best chances past regulation in the second overtime period, including a Radek Faksa look at an open net and an Esa Lindell one-timer that barely missed. But after Danila Yurov threw a puck over the glass for a delay of game penalty, the Stars finally were able to take advantage. Johnston deflected Miro Heiskanen’s shot from the point to claim the win 92:08 into the game. The forward had already broken Dallas’ franchise record for most power play goals in a regular season season and has managed to keep it up with two in the playoffs.

Stars penalty kill steps up in crunch time

After giving up a goal on Minnesota’s first power play, Dallas’ penalty kill kept the Wild off the scoresheet for the rest of the game. The Wild finished 1-for-7, going zero for their last six attempts in the second and third periods and overtime. Minnesota had two power play chances in overtime. The first was after a Sam Steel tripping penalty. The Stars managed to kill off the penalty even with one of their penalty killers, Radek Faksa, without a stick for the majority of the two minutes. Stars captain Jamie Benn then committed a hooking penalty with 51 seconds left in the first overtime period. But the Stars also managed to kill that penalty across two periods. After allowing two Minnesota power play goals in the first game of the playoffs and three in their last regular-season meeting, the Stars have turned their special teams around. They also did so with some of their penalty killers playing major minutes, like Miro Heiskanen, who played 41:58 and Esa Lindell, who played 30:16.

Stars power play puts on rollercoaster performance

Through three games, the Stars have learned the Wild will spend their fair share of time in the penalty box. But when they’re able to bait them, they have to make them pay. The Stars were inconsistent Thursday, but in the end, they did. Dallas scored three total power play goals and two late — one from Matt Duchene in the third period and another from Johnston in overtime — to complete the comeback win. It was necessary after how their power play performed in the second period. Late in the period, the Wild took three consecutive minors — two interference calls on Ryan Hartman and a delay of game penalty on Matt Boldy. The Stars were on the man advantage longer than a major penalty and spent 41 seconds with a two-man advantage but still couldn’t score. Not capitalizing on such a prime opportunity was bound to come back to haunt the Stars, and it took just seven seconds for Michael McCarron to score his first goal of the playoffs and give the Wild their first lead of the night with under three minutes remaining in the second. The Stars’ power play ultimately finished 3-for-8 on the night and has six goals in three games this series.

Early Dallas lead vanishes

The Stars had a flawless start Wednesday night, jumping out to a 2-0 lead less than four minutes into the game. Steel drew a tripping penalty that put the Stars on the power play just 1:05 into the game, and Jason Robertson found Rantanen with a perfectly placed pass. Then, Robertson scored himself on the rush later in the period. But they say a two-goal lead is the most dangerous in hockey, and it was for the Stars. A high-sticking penalty on Robertson allowed Marcus Johansson to score on the power play late in the first period and shift the momentum in Minnesota’s direction. The Wild were able to carry it into the second period, where they ultimately fought back to take their first lead in the series since Game 1. But the Stars have shown a steadiness all season, even when they trail. Despite entering the third period down a goal and taking two early penalties, the Stars stayed composed and evened the game down the stretch.

Jason Robertson on a heater, gets support from top teammates

Robertson has been playing his best hockey when it’s mattered most. The team’s leading goal scorer, who finished tied with Wyatt Johnston with 45 goals in the regular season, has one in each of the first three games of the series. Robertson had a hand in Dallas’ first two goals Wednesday night, hitting Rantanen as he crashed the net on the power play before keeping it himself on a rush chance later in the first period. Dating to the regular season, Robertson has eight goals in the last eight games. The Dallas forward has been criticized in the past for not producing in the playoffs at the same rate as he has in the regular season. Robertson has averaged 1.07 points per game in his regular-season career, but just .79 in the playoffs. But so far this postseason, he has delivered. Robertson also received some much-needed support from teammates like Johnston, Rantanen and Duchene, who both finished with multiple points. Johnston had the game-winner and an assist. Rantanen scored his first goal of the playoffs and added an assist. Duchene scored to tie the score in the third and added two assists.