Tonight marks a critical Game 5 in Dallas, with the series level at 2-2. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. CT and can be watched on ESPN2, FanDuel Sports Network, and heard on KFAN FM 100.3. Minnesota evened the series on Saturday night, securing a 3-2 overtime victory thanks to Matt Boldy’s game-winning tip-in goal from a Jared Spurgeon shot in front of the net. This win was Minnesota’s fifth home overtime triumph in franchise history, and their first since Game 3 of the First Round in 2013.
Entering tonight’s contest, Minnesota has outscored Dallas 14-11 in the series, with 11 of those 14 goals coming during five-on-five play. Minnesota’s power play continues to be a subject of discussion, having converted on just 3 of 19 opportunities in the series, including an 0-for-4 showing on Saturday. However, Minnesota could receive a boost in this area with Mats Zuccarello returning to the lineup after missing the last three games. In his sole appearance of the series (Game 1), Zuccarello contributed three assists and played a role in Minnesota’s 2-for-4 power-play performance.
For Dallas, their power play has proven to be a persistent challenge for Minnesota. The Stars have scored at least one power-play goal in all four games of the series, going 2-for-2 in Game 4. In total, Dallas has an impressive 8-for-19 (42.1%) success rate on the man advantage. Conversely, five-on-five scoring has been an issue for Dallas. The Stars have not netted an even-strength goal since the first period of Game 3, marking a drought of 157 minutes and 53 seconds of game action.
Regarding past Game 5’s for either team, Minnesota holds a 5-10 record, with all five wins occurring on the road. Dallas, historically, is 31-32 all-time in Game 5s, boasting an 18-8 record when playing on home ice. Minnesota has only ever held a 3-2 series lead once in franchise history, and they went on to win that series. For Dallas, their all-time record stands at 23-3 when they secure a 3-2 series lead in the postseason.