Experience is a big factor come playoff time and the Wild will need to draw on that experience to help them overcome their recent rash injuries. His absence is really challenging for Minnesota since he is also the franchise’s all-time leading playoffs scorer, with 25 points in 28 games. Jason Spezza and Patrick Eaves each had a goal and assist in the win.
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Stars coach Lindy Ruff is one of the best in business.
“I’ve scored a few there”. “I just kind of take what’s open”.
“I felt good”, he said after taking part in the team’s latest workout.
It was Spezza’s first time in the playoffs since 2013 with Ottawa.
Jason Spezza returned to the postseason with a nifty goal and added an assist and Kari Lehtonen stopped 22 shots for his second career playoff shutout. The North Stars moved to Dallas in 1993 to become the Stars. Take a look at three keys for the Stars in the opening round of the playoffs. After firing their head coach mid-season, the Wild seemingly had things turned around, until the team got complacent near the end of the season. “We haven’t had that flow of the checking mentality and we want to get back to that”. He missed eight games earlier this year with the first one suffered in mid-December. Wild G Devan Dubnyk started his 11th career playoff game….
An empty netter for Captain Jamie Benn, with 4:00 remaining, put the finishing touch on a solid performance for the West’s number one seed.
So don’t expect the Stars to take their foot off the gas going into Game 2 at 7 p.m. Saturday night at the American Airlines Center. Kane, who finished the regular season with a scorching seven goals in five games, and Jonathan Toews bring a championship pedigree to a Blackhawks team that looks to embark on yet another deep run this postseason.
A weakened Wild limp into the home of the Central’s deadliest team for Game 1.
The goaltending matchup should be great as Elliott led the National Hockey League in save percentage, while Crawford placed tied for fourth in save percentage and in sole possession of fourth in wins.
In other Saturday night playoff action…
“Still a work in progress, I think”, Fleury said Thursday afternoon, appearing to choose his words carefully following an optional skate with teammates.
New York’s chances against the Atlantic Division-champion Panthers could depend on goalie Thomas Greiss, who was 18-6-3 with a 2.20 goals-against average at the time of Halak’s injury, but hasn’t been at his best since. “I feel like guys were just disappointed in themselves [after Game 1]”.
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Radek Faksa – The Stars’ rookie center bounced back and forth from Cedar Park to Dallas this season, filling in for injured NHLers as needed.
