Minnesota Wild at Dallas Stars Game 1 Preview

Regular Season Series

The Wild and Stars faced off 5 times throughout the regular season. The games except for one were all relatively close and ended up as follows:

Nov 14th MIN 2, DAL 3 (OT)

Nov 28th DAL 4, MIN 3 (OT)

Dec 21st- DAL 6, MIN 3

Jan 9th- MIN 2, DAL 1

Feb. 9th- DAL 4, MIN 3 (OT)

This could be a close match up or a blow out depending on who plays their style of hockey the longest. Three out of five games during the regular season went to OT, so it wouldn't be insane to expect a game or two to be a one goal difference. The Stars also showed the Wild they have offensive talent in a 6-3 blowout, however. In order to be successful enough to advance the Wild have to play their best hockey in Dallas and at home while filling depth gaps with so many players out for at least Game 1.

Match-up Preview

Interesting/upsetting Stats

Dallas has had 3 30-goal scorers this season. The Wild have just had 2... in the entire Chuck Fletcher era (Pominville in 13-14, Parise in 14-15).

Dallas had 4 players with over 200 shots on goal (Seguin, Benn, Sharp, Spezza), and they combined to score on 13.3% of their 953 shots.

Nino Niederreiter - Despite having 0 points in his last 5 games, he has continued to make an impact defensively with his line being matched up against opposing teams' first lines time and time again. Being able to shut down the Stars first line will be very important this series.

Jason Spezza - 6 points (4-2=6) in last 5 games

Who's not Hot?

Mikko Koivu - 1 point (0-1=1) in 5 games

We will have more updates throughout today as they become available.