Dallas on the brink
Dallas News • • sports
Key Points:
- The Dallas Stars are facing elimination after losing Game 5 to the Minnesota Wild 4-2 at home, with the Wild needing just one more win to advance to the second round against the Colorado Avalanche.
- The Stars continue to struggle offensively at 5-on-5, having scored only three such goals in the series, while the Wild have dominated this aspect with an 11-3 advantage.
- Special teams played a key role in Game 5, as the Wild neutralized the Stars’ power-play advantage by scoring a power-play goal themselves, aided by the return of Mats Zuccarello and the injury to Wild penalty killer Arttu Hyry.
- Dallas’ recent trade deadline additions have yet to make a positive impact; defenseman Tyler Myers has struggled defensively, and forward Michael Bunting has not played in the series so far.
- Wild forward Matt Boldy has been a consistent threat, scoring multiple key goals and assists, while the Stars have had some of his goals disallowed due to penalties or challenges.
