ST. PAUL, Minn. — Quinn Hughes scored twice and the Minnesota Wild defeated the Dallas Stars 5-2 in Game 6 to win the franchise’s first playoff series in 11 years.
Minnesota will meet the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche in the second round. Colorado has not played since sweeping Los Angeles on Sunday.
This marked the Wild’s first series victory since 2015. Minnesota had fallen to Dallas in the first round in 2016 and again in 2023.
Jesper Wallstedt made 22 saves and reflected on the moment. “I see our fans when we scored our fourth goal, I looked back through the glass and I see someone crying in the stands,” said Wallstedt. “I realize how big this is for our fan base. Not just us but there’s so many more people who are with us on this road and this journey. The excitement and joy to get past the first round is huge.”
Hughes broke a tie midway through the third period. Matt Boldy then scored into empty nets twice to finish with his team-leading fifth and sixth goals of the series. Vladimir Tarasenko also had a goal for Minnesota.
“Big-time players step up in big-time games, and that is what he did,” fellow defenseman Brock Faber said about Hughes. Hughes also registered an assist in the game.
The fourth line of Marcus Foligno, Nick Foligno and Nico Sturm set the tone physically. They combined for 15 of Minnesota’s 32 hits. Kirill Kaprizov added two goals and seven assists in the series and praised the group effort. “If you ask everyone in this team, in this group, and everyone feels something special,” said Kirill Kaprizov, who had two goals and seven assists in the series. “We just build all season, and guys who came in for playoff did a great job. When the team wants to go long, long run, it’s all four lines that need to be in the game.”
All three Wild goals in the game came at even strength. Minnesota outscored Dallas 17-5 at even strength in the series, including 12-4 at 5-on-5. Stars coach Glen Gulutzan offered his view: “Lots of you are going go to 5-on-5 scoring, but reality is, territory-wise in this series I think was pretty even,” Stars coach Glen Gulutzan said. “I even give us the territorial advantage, but we didn’t defend well enough.”
Wyatt Johnston and Mavrik Bourque scored for Dallas. Johnston had the league-high 10th power-play goal of the postseason for the Stars. Hughes opened the scoring in the first period, and Johnston tied it on a power-play pass from Mikko Rantanen. A bounce off the end boards then set up Bourque for a goal with 3:42 left in the second. Tarasenko answered 54 seconds later, tipping a shot and scoring on a backhand for his 50th career postseason goal. “Vladdy has won two Stanley Cups already,” Kaprizov said. “He knows what you need to do in the playoffs.
