The Minnesota Wild announced on Apr. 30 that the team is positioned to potentially advance to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2015, as it hosts the Dallas Stars in Game 6 tonight.
This game is significant for Minnesota, which has only been up 3-2 in a playoff series once before. According to Stats Perform, the Wild holds a record of four wins and one loss in potential series-clinching playoff games, but only one of those victories was not achieved in a Game 7 scenario.
After trailing Dallas two games to one earlier in this series, Minnesota has secured back-to-back wins and now seeks a third consecutive victory—a feat recently accomplished by its opponents during previous postseason eliminations. In Game 5, goals from Mats Zuccarello, Matt Boldy, Michael McCarron and Kirill Kaprizov led Minnesota to a 4-2 win. The Stars have not scored an even-strength goal since early in Game 2.
Kirill Kaprizov enters tonight’s contest tied with Leon Draisaitl for most points so far this postseason at nine (two goals and seven assists). “Kaprizov is only the third NHL player since 1996 with nine or more points and a plus/minus rating of +9 or higher in his first five playoff games in one year,” according to Stats Perform. The return of Zuccarello also contributed positively; he and Kaprizov have combined for three points each across their last two games together.
Head Coach John Hynes confirmed that defenseman Jonas Brodin will miss tonight’s game due to a lower-body injury sustained during Game 5. Brodin leads all Wild defensemen—and ranks tied-fourth among all playoff skaters—with fourteen blocked shots this postseason. Jeff Petry will replace Brodin alongside Zach Bogosian on defense.
Looking ahead, scoring first and avoiding penalties are key strategies for Minnesota as it attempts to close out the series at home—something it has not done consecutively since 2014.