Today, the Dallas Stars hosted the Minnesota Wild in the first quarterfinal of the NHL playoffs, and the road team grabbed a 3-2 overtime victory. The game opened with a sharp score just one minute before the first timeout, a strike by Kirill Kaprizov, the Russian forward for Minnesota. The sequence set a fast tone for the night and gave Minnesota an early lead that would carry through the opening period.
As the second period unfolded, Dallas answered with two quick goals in the span of four minutes. Roope Hintz found the back of the net first, followed by a goal from Jason Robertson, lifting the home crowd and flipping the momentum in favor of the Stars. Yet Minnesota refused to fade, and Sam Steel evened the score during the same period, keeping the series tightly contested and emphasizing the high stakes of every shift.
The final regulation twenty minutes produced no additional scoring from either side, pushing the game into overtime. In the extra period, Minnesota pressed the pace, and Ryan Hartman delivered the deciding play that sealed the Wild’s 3-2 win. The late heroics reinforced the visitors’ resolve and set the tone for a tightly contested series. (Attribution: NHL)
With this result, Minnesota holds a 1-0 lead in the series, leaving Dallas with a must-win approach as the teams prepare for the next matchup on April 20. The calendar will bring another clash that promises to be a battle of strategic depth, quick execution, and the kind of disciplined defense that characterizes playoff hockey. (Attribution: NHL)
Throughout the NHL regular season, the Russian forward who starred in this game appeared in 67 matches for Minnesota, recording 40 goals and 35 assists, a stat line that highlights his sustained influence on the club’s offense. (Attribution: NHL)
Earlier reporting noted Dmitry Orlov’s contribution helped Boston secure a victory in Game 1 of the NHL Playoffs, an example of defensive reliability and playmaking that can shift playoff series momentum. (Attribution: NHL)