Stars Beat Wild 4-3 in Double Overtime as Wyatt Johnston’s Tip Ends Marathon
Wyatt Johnston’s double-overtime tip lifted the Stars as the Stars beat Wild 4-3 in a Game 3 classic, giving Dallas a 2-1 lead in the Western Conference series.
Johnston’s Late Winner Ends Marathon
At 92:10 of a game that began Wednesday and finished in the early hours of Thursday, Wyatt Johnston redirected a puck past rookie Jesper Wallstedt to end the contest in double overtime. The go-ahead deflection came off a Dallas power-play sequence and produced a stunned silence from the crowd at Grand Casino Arena in Saint Paul. The goal completed a night of momentum swings and handed the Dallas Stars their most dramatic victory of the series so far.
Stars’ Power Play Decisive in Outcome
Dallas converted three times on the power play in Game 3, underscoring a special-teams advantage that carried over from the regular season when the Stars operated one of the league’s top units. The third man-advantage tally was Johnston’s game-winner, and the Stars repeatedly forced high-danger looks when Minnesota was shorthanded. Despite a late five-on-three opportunity for the Wild, Minnesota failed to capitalize, allowing Dallas to turn penalties into the decisive edge.
Duchene Forces Extra Time with Late Goal
Matt Duchene produced three points and delivered the tying goal that pushed the game into overtime, finishing off a patient sequence set up by Mikko Rantanen’s composed play. Duchene’s finish came seconds after a heavy third-period push by Dallas and proved critical in a contest defined by its see-sawing momentum. Jake Oettinger backed up that attack with 28 saves, making several key stops in regulation and overtime to keep the Stars alive until Johnston’s deflection.
Boldy Returns, Spurs Wild Rally
Matt Boldy left in the first period after a hit to the head but returned in the second and immediately influenced the game, orchestrating a rush that led to Joel Eriksson Ek’s tying goal. Boldy’s speed and puck skill created multiple dangerous chances, including a power-play shot that rang off the post and a short-handed two-on-one that nearly produced another Wild marker. His presence was particularly important for Minnesota while veteran playmaker Mats Zuccarello remained sidelined with an injury.
Goaltending and Defensive Workload Highlighted
Rookie Jesper Wallstedt stood tall in his first home playoff start, turning aside 32 shots and keeping Minnesota competitive through two overtimes until the narrow deflection beat him. Dallas goalie Jake Oettinger made several timely saves, particularly late in the third period when the Stars briefly ceded momentum to the Wild. Minnesota also leaned heavily on its defensive pairings, with one defender logging an enormous 43:47 of ice time as the coaching staff extended minutes to trusted veterans in the marathon contest.
Key Moments That Shifted Momentum
Dallas received an early two-goal cushion after Robertson threaded a pass to Mikko Rantanen for a quick deflection, then finished off a turnover on a two-on-one to push the lead to 2-0. Minnesota flipped the script by killing a five-on-three and then capitalizing 7 seconds after a teammate left the penalty box, when Michael McCarron wired his first playoff goal past Oettinger to put the Wild ahead. The late third-period equalizer by Duchene and the subsequent overtime exchanges illustrated how often control changed hands in a tightly contested Game 3.
Game 5 is scheduled for Saturday at 7 p.m. CT in Saint Paul, with the Stars now holding a 2-1 series advantage and both teams likely to adjust their lineups and tactics after the exhausting double-overtime battle. The Stars beat Wild in an instant that will reverberate through the series, but Minnesota’s resilience and special-teams resistance ensure this first-round matchup remains far from decided.
