Minnesota Wild @ Dallas Stars Game Recap

Minnesota Wild 1 - 4 Dallas Stars

For Dallas perspective, please visit Defending Big D.

Since everyone here at Hockey Wilderness was away from the game tonight, we're going to run with the recap from our sister site over at SBNatio Minnesota. So, from Brian Packay:

The Minnesota Wild had been turning things around of late, winning their last two games and pulling within three points of the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference. (To think, Minnesota was one of the best teams in the NHL just a few months ago, but alas, they're now running after a No. 8 seed.) They had a chance to gain some ground by taking on the current No. 8 seed Dallas Stars on Friday night, but unfortunately, they fell as hard as they did from the standings.

Dallas scored three times, twice in the first and once in the second period, before Minnesota could light the lamp. By then, it was too late and the Stars had a firm grasp on an extra two points to distance themselves from the Wild in the playoff standings.

Devin Setoguchi scored the lone goal for the Wild, his 15th of the season. Matt Hackett,who was recently called up and was considered to start in net, relieved Niklas Backstrom of his duties after Backstrom allowed three goals on 14 shots; Hackett stopped all 10 shots he faced.

It is completely unshocking that the Wild lost in Dallas. The next time they win there, gas might just be $8.00 a gallon.

The Bennett's Chop & Railhouse Stars of the Game:

1. Tom Wandell (2G)
2. Loui Eriksson (1G)
3. Kari Lehtonen (28 saves)

Five Questions:

1. Can the winning streak continue? Not tonight.
   
2. Is the curse broken? Ha ha. No.
3. Does the team continue to rally around each other and win sans Koivu? From reports, the Wild were pretty flat.
   
4. At the end of this one, buyers or sellers? Sell like there is no tomorrow.
   
5. Does Eric Nystrom find a new way to dominate his old team? He scored. Again.