Postgame: Back At It

SAINT PAUL, Minn. -- There is, of course, no such thing as a perfect NHL playoff game. But there is something close and that was what the Minnesota Wild delivered in winning Game 3 of its opening round series against the Dallas Stars in emphatic fashion 5-1 Friday night.

Two days after being blown out in Game 2 in Dallas by a 7-3 count the Wild made good on promises to park that lamentable effort and produced a disciplined, hard-nosed performance that gives them a 2-1 series lead.
"We talked this morning, we were very business-like in the room and they were just ready to play," Head Coach Dean Evason said. "And it's such a big credit to, and I know it probably gets old when I talk about our leaders and whatever, but it's reality that the way that they conducted themselves and in preparation for this game and then executing on the ice is real good obviously."
"Again, we talked about Game 2 is over," Evason added. "Game 3 is over and we've got to do it again and that'll be our message tomorrow."
Game 3 is set for Sunday at Xcel Energy Center.

Eriksson Ek's Brief Return

If there was one dark cloud that hovered over the Wild's Game 3 win it was that the much-heralded return of the Wild's top center, Joel Eriksson Ek, lasted only 19 seconds. Injured blocking a shot on April 6 against Pittsburgh, Eriksson Ek has been skating for a week now and there has been growing anticipation about his return to the lineup given his importance on so many levels to the Wild's game. But in his first return to action Eriksson Ek took one shift and without appearing to have any kind of physical contact left the ice and did not return. Evason seemed very grim when asked about Eriksson Ek. "It's sad, right? Disappointing, obviously. We all know who he is, outside and more importantly inside and his will to get back out there with his teammates was tremendous," Evason said. "So, yeah, it's a tough one, for sure." Eriksson Ek was examined by medical staff Friday night and will be examined again on Saturday to see what next steps might be.

Eriksson Ek Fallout

Of the many facets of Eriksson Ek's game that the Wild miss is the impact in the faceoff circle. The Wild have been handled easily on the draw throughout the series losing 56% of draws in each of the first two games and then losing 63% of faceoffs on Friday. It's a testament to the team's puck retrieval skills that they have had the success they have through the first three games.

Welcome To The Playoffs Mr. Klingberg

While Eriksson Ek's '23 playoff debut ended prematurely, Friday's game also marked the first playoff experience as a member of the Wild for veteran John Klingberg. The smooth-skating defenseman acquired at the trade deadline from Anaheim had suffered an injury in practice before Game 1 and missed the two games in Dallas. He was outstanding in his return to action. It was his point shot that led to the Wild's first goal by Mats Zuccarello (Klingberg ended up with an assist on the play) and his presence on the Wild power play was noticeable. He added a second assist on the Wild's fourth goal while logging 16:38 in ice time.
"Just stay ready," Klingberg said. "I mean I love the playoffs. It's a different breed and it's fun to play." Also noteworthy is that Klingberg was paired with former collegiate star Brock Faber. Both players are right-hand shots and Klingberg played on his off side meaning he has to take the puck on his backhand on plays in the offensive zone along the boards.
"Honestly I haven't played my off-side anything in the NHL. But I've done it before," Klingberg said. "It's a little bit different. Sometimes you kind of get caught leaning towards the right side. Playing on the left side there's some things that actually I think is easier but there's also some stuff that makes it harder. I mean it doesn't really matter which side I'm on. I'm here to win and if the coach wants me on the left side I'll play the left side." Evason said the book on Klingberg is that he elevates his game in the playoffs. "He did that tonight," the coach said.

A Second Gus Bus Starts Rolling

The Gus Nyquist magic just keeps happening. When Nyquist was acquired from Columbus at the trade deadline it wasn't known if he'd recover from a shoulder injury. All he's done is record at least a point in every game in which he's skated including the first three playoff games. His assist on the third goal Friday makes him the first Wild player ever to collect points in his first three Wild playoff games. He has four assists in total in the post-season. Evason said assistant coach Brett McLean referred to Nyquist as "just a hockey player."
"Like in all areas," Evason said. "Sure, we knew what we were getting. We've seen him and watched him. The stats you can look and all that kind of stuff. But you didn't know he competed and how he was on all areas of the ice defensively, offensively, his calmness. He's a pro. Yeah he's been a real nice addition for us for sure."

Physical Smarts And Rewriting the Special Teams Story

There is always a fine line between imposing your physical will as a team and crossing a line that provides an opponent chances on the power play. The Wild rewrote an ugly special teams storyline from Game 2 where they allowed three power play goals and a shorthanded goal, in bold fashion Friday. The Stars had just two power play opportunities and were denied by the Wild on both. They had been 5-for-11 through the first two games. The Wild scored once on four man-advantage chances to win the special teams battle on the night. But the lack of penalties taken by the Wild does not suggest it altered its physicality plan. It out-hit the Stars 26-17.
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but you guys are watching, we're always physical. That's just what we do. That's just how we're built," Evason said. "We've talked a lot about what we do and how we play and that is a consistent thing that happens with our hockey club and again, it has to be for us to have success, we have to play the way we play. And we did tonight."

Minnesota allowed Dallas just 24 shots on goal and Roope Hintz, who had a hat-trick in Game 2, had zero shots on goal. Sniper Jason Robertson tied for the Dallas team lead with just three shots. "Just go do it. You can say it as much as you want but you've got to actually go and get it done," said Ryan Hartman who missed Game 2 with an injury but was solid in his return to the lineup Friday. "We played heavy when we had to and when opportunities came for skill, you saw Jojo's goal, he's able to make plays, and he had another couple chances that hit the post. Just all around I think it was a really good Minnesota Wild hockey game."

Play Of The Night

Hartman referenced Marcus Johansson's highlight reel goal where he schooled Dallas defenseman Colin Miller and then ripped a shot past Jake Oettinger in the Stars' net early in the second period for what would turn out to be the game-winner.

Final Word

"When you're wondering when you were a kid in the crowd if players hear you or if it effects the game, playing, it sure does. Hearing that crowd - just feeding off that. It was special. They were great and Sunday will be a blast."
- Former University of Minnesota standout and Minnesota native Brock Faber