NHL: Kirill Kaprizov directs Wild to 3-2 series edge over Stars

Kirill Kaprizov had a goal and two assists as the Minnesota Wild defeated the Dallas Stars, 4-2, in Game 5 of their Western Conference first-round playoff series on Tuesday night.

The No. 3-seeded Wild now lead the best-of-seven series, 3-2, with Game 6 set for Thursday in Minnesota. The winner will advance to face the top-seeded Colorado Avalanche.

“We knew it was going to be a long series,” Stars captain Jamie Benn said. “We feel we could be up 3-2, but we're not, and that's just hockey. Now we get to go on the road and win one game. That's all it is, and we've been a great road team all year.”

Trailing 3-1 late in the third period, No. 2 seed Dallas pulled goaltender Jake Oettinger during 4-on-4 play. The move paid off briefly when Jason Robertson’s centering pass deflected in off Minnesota defenseman Jared Spurgeon at 16:39, cutting the deficit to 3-2.

However, Kaprizov sealed the win with an empty-net goal at 18:00 to make it 4-2.

Minnesota entered the game having been outscored 8-3 on the power play in the series, but both teams found success with the man advantage on Tuesday.

“On special teams, we’ve been really snake-bitten,” Wild forward Michael McCarron said. “For us to come through in a hostile environment and prove that we can still kill penalties and score on the power play was huge for us tonight.”

Matt Boldy added a goal and an assist, while Mats Zuccarello and McCarron also scored for Minnesota. Jesper Wallstedt made 20 saves in the win.

For Dallas, Robertson and Miro Heiskanen each recorded a goal and an assist, while Oettinger finished with 24 saves.

Zuccarello, returning after missing three games due to an upper-body injury sustained in Game 1, gave Minnesota a 1-0 lead at 3:51 of the first period. Kaprizov collected his own rebound and fed a cross-crease pass to Zuccarello, who finished at the right post.

Heiskanen tied the game at 8:58 with a 50-foot power-play blast. Robertson received a pass from Matt Duchene in the left circle and set up Heiskanen, who scored on a one-timer from the point.

Boldy appeared to put Minnesota ahead late in the first period, but the goal was overturned after Dallas challenged for goaltender interference, ruling that Boldy had pushed Oettinger’s pad with his stick.

Boldy eventually restored Minnesota’s lead at 2-1 with a power-play goal at 19:28 of the second period, finishing a wrist shot from above the right circle off a return pass from Quinn Hughes.

McCarron extended the lead to 3-1 at 7:47 of the third period after chasing down a loose puck and chipping it past Oettinger in front of the net.

Dallas responded late but could not complete the comeback, setting up a must-win Game 6 on home ice for Minnesota. -Field Level Media/Reuters