Detroit Lakes, MN (KDLM) – The Minnesota Wild return home looking to reclaim the series lead when they host the Dallas Stars in Game 3 of their first-round Stanley Cup Playoff series tonight at Grand Casino Arena.
The best-of-seven series is tied 1-1 heading into the first of two straight games in St. Paul. Minnesota stole home-ice advantage with a dominant 6-1 win in Game 1 on Saturday, then dropped Game 2 on Monday by a 4-2 score in Dallas.
Discipline is shaping up as a storyline for the Wild. Minnesota was called for eight penalties in the Game 2 loss, including five in the third period alone. Head coach John Hynes told reporters after the team landed back in the Twin Cities on Tuesday that his players need to stay out of the penalty box and channel their intensity the right way, saying they have to play with emotion but not be emotional.
The Wild will look to lean on their home crowd for the next two games. Minnesota went 23-10-8 at Grand Casino Arena during the regular season, and the team is 10-7 all-time in Game 3s, including 8-5 at home.
Dallas will again counter with Wyatt Johnston, who scored twice in Game 2 and enters tonight on a three-game postseason point streak against Minnesota. Stars forward Jason Robertson led Dallas in both goals (45) and points (96) during the regular season. The Stars’ power play has been clicking in the postseason at better than 33%.
Game 4 is set for Saturday afternoon at Grand Casino Arena before the series shifts back to Dallas for Game 5.
Puck drop tonight is at 8:30 p.m.
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