In game one, when the Wild were able to sustain pressure in the Stars zone they tried to make plays rather than to create scoring chances by putting pucks to the net.
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This may very well be the strangest NHL Playoff goal ever.
Much like Game 1, the Stars had plenty of shots on goal in the first period, out-shooting the Wild 14-7.
The Stars even got the big break. The Wild had 52 seconds of clock to work with after the Pominville penalty expired. He’s got a lot more important role under the new coach [John Torchetti]. Defenseman Marco Scandella’s clearing attempt hit off Stars forward Ales Hemsky, ricocheted off Antoine Roussel’s skate and onto Dubnyk’s back. Roussel never touch the puck with his stick, and there was no whistle.
Call it lucky. Call it weird. Wild interim coach John Torchetti said the health of Parise, who remains back in Minnesota, is a day-to-day situation.
The Wild have taken 48 shots in the first two games, which is an average of 24 per game.
“I went back when he was playing and watched how he played”.
The Stars are already on notice. “You get chills every time with Lauren (Hart) singing “God Bless America” with Kate Smith there”. The Stars didn’t surrender the lead from that point on, holding on for a 2-1 victory in Game 2 on Saturday night at American Airlines Center.
“Our leaders have to be better leaders now moving forward”, Torchetti said.
The teams will play Game 3 on Monday at 8:30 p.m. Eastern.
“Going into Philly, if we had the games like we had these last two games, we’re probably not going to come out on top because of discipline issues”, Holtby said.
Sometimes, all you need is a little luck. “You can’t get worked up, sucked into their crowd, sucked into their atmosphere”. For the most part, they kept their poise and even outplayed Dallas in some areas. It seems likely that Ruff will start Antti Niemi in Game 3; Ruff used both goalies so well and so equally throughout the season that both won 25 games during the regular season. “We’re going to have to be better than we were tonight, for sure, but if there’s anybody in here that thinks we can’t beat them, they shouldn’t”. They were ready to play.
Transferring that success to home ice has been the problem.
Why the Wild will win: Perfection at home.
In order to maintain their momentum, the Sharks must continue to keep Kings stars Anze Kopitar, Drew Doughty and Tyler Toffoli quiet.
He began the game as the right wing on a line with Jamie Benn (left wing) and Cody Eakin (center).
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That being said, the officials in Toronto indeed had the better look at the goal, but Wild fans looking for more of a reason to be livid about the Game 2 loss now have the dots to connect in this conspiracy theory. They rarely got bodies in front of Lehtonen until late in the third period when a Niederreiter screen facilitated Scandella’s goal.
