Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild finally set for Game 1 in long-expected 1st-round NHL playoff series
DALLAS (AP) — The Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild have expected this first-round playoff matchup for months, and the Central Division rivals really set a tone for the series in a physical game just over a week ago in the same building. “I think it's exactly what it was,” Stars forward Mikko Rantanen said Friday. Dallas won 5-4 in that game April 9, when there were 12 roughing penalties — six on each side.
Each team won twice in the regular-season series in which both scored 13 goals. “They got the best of us for sure, but it was a great hockey game for the end of a regular season,” Minnesota forward Matt Boldy said. Now, the teams that were in second and third place in the Central throughout most of the season behind Presidents' Trophy winner Colorado play a best-of-seven series.
Game 1 is Saturday in Dallas. The Wild missed a chance that night to match the Stars in the standings. Instead, Dallas pretty much locked up home-ice advantage with the second of five consecutive wins to end the regular season.
“We learned some lessons last time we played them," Wild forward Marcus Foligno said. “We know that they’re a really, really good team, and so are we. They have some lethal weapons.
We’re just more educated, more experienced going into this series than we were before. We always like our chances. We’re positive.
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