The Minnesota Wild announced on April 30 that they are set to play Game 6 of their first-round Stanley Cup Playoff series against the Dallas Stars at Grand Casino Arena, with an opportunity to advance in front of their home fans.
This upcoming game holds significance as it marks the first time since 2015 that the Wild have a chance to win a playoff series at home. Brock Faber, who was only twelve during the team’s last such opportunity, is now one of its leading defensemen. “I can’t wait to hear that crowd, it’s going to be fun,” Faber said after the team’s recent victory. He added, “We’ve all bought into believing in the guy next to you and that he is going to do his job to the best of his ability.”
Goaltender Jesper Wallstedt has started all five games in this series and commented on the magnitude of Game 6: “I’m looking forward to it so much. I’m super excited. These two last home games were electric. Hopefully, they (the fans) can bring that again, and we can play up to that level.” The Wild secured a 4-2 win in Game 5 in Dallas with contributions from Mats Zuccarello—returning from injury—Matt Boldy, Michael McCarron, and Kirill Kaprizov.
Coach John Hynes addressed preparations for Game 6 by saying: “This one’s in the books. What we do from now until Game 6 is going to determine how we play, and our focus now is Game 6.” The team will face off at Grand Casino Arena at an earlier start time than previous games.
Fans have played a notable role throughout this playoff run. Defenseman Quinn Hughes said about their support: “It’s 1 in the morning, and I don’t think anyone left the game… Just special to be a part of.” Boldy echoed this sentiment after scoring key goals: “They’ve been great, and we feed off that energy.” Wallstedt described his excitement following an overtime win: “I almost touched the roof, I got so excited.”
Coach Hynes highlighted fan impact earlier in the series by saying: “Our fans are unbelievable… It’s a great place to play. We’re sold out almost every night.” As anticipation builds for Game 6 on home ice, McCarron summed up team morale: “We believe in ourselves and what we can bring… The more you play…the more belief you have as a group.”
