Better effort. Same results. Wild fall in overtime to Stars 4-3

But this Wild team had something different in them Tuesday night. It showed that it won't wither away after getting punched back. Erik Haula found Justin Fontaine with a pass as the Wild crossed the blue line in a 4-on-0. Fontaine faked the pass and roofed it over the glove of Lehtonen. Doing the fake at full speed takes skill, and luckily he didn't flub the opportunity. Minnesota ended up out-shooting the Stars 12-10 for the period with each trading a power play opportunity.

Which is good for the Wild that he didn't challenge. However, why would he have been allowed to challenge the play, is beyond me. If the officials already look at the play in an official timeout and not a challenge, the goal play should be looked at in its entirety to make sure the legality is good. That means checking on things that a coach would challenge for as well. Offside, goalie interference, anything should be looked at if the officials go to the War Room for a review. Instead, they look at the whether or not the puck crossed the line and leaves room for the coach to challenge a play that has already been looked at.

Luckily, in this case, Ruff did not do that. But the idea that it was there to begin with is ridiculous.

The Wild lasted until overtime. A point. A very much need point in the standings. But for a team looking to get a win in the most desperate of ways, needed to end the game on a high note.

The Wild showed better effort, played respectable hockey, but just couldn't find the win column.