It takes 16 playoff wins to hoist the Stanley Cup, and while the Minnesota Wild are just a quarter of the way there, their first series victory in over a decade feels like a monumental step forward. On Thursday night, Quinn Hughes delivered a dazzling performance, scoring his second goal of the game midway through the third period to lift the Wild to a 5-2 win over the Dallas Stars at Grand Casino Arena. This victory sends Minnesota to the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2015.
The Wild now set their sights on the Colorado Avalanche, who topped the Central Division with an NHL-best 121 points during the regular season. It’s a daunting matchup, but for a franchise that hasn’t advanced this far in years, the energy is electric.
Hughes wasn’t just a scorer—he also added an assist on a second-period goal, while rookie goaltender Jesper Wallstedt turned in a stellar 22-save performance. This win marked only the second time in franchise history that Minnesota has clinched a playoff series on home ice, making the night even more special for the roaring crowd.
The game was knotted at 2-2 in the third period when Hughes threaded a pass across the crease intended for Kirill Kaprizov. The puck deflected off the skate of Dallas defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin and slipped into the net, igniting the arena. It was a classic example of hockey’s unpredictability—sometimes, it’s not the pretty plays but the gritty bounces that decide a series.
Dallas pulled goaltender Jake Oettinger for an extra attacker with over three minutes left in regulation, but Matt Boldy sealed the deal with an empty-net goal at the 91-second mark, followed by another with just 14.8 seconds remaining. The Stars, who had relied heavily on their power play for offense throughout the series, couldn’t find a late answer.
The night started with a memorable pregame moment: retired goalie Marc-Andre Fleury led the crowd in the iconic “Let’s Play Hockey” cheer, setting the tone for an unforgettable evening. Hughes then opened the scoring by weaving through traffic in the offensive zone, fooling Stars center Radek Faksa with a slick stick move before unleashing a rising wrist shot. With bodies crowding Oettinger’s view, the puck found a gap between the far post and the goalie’s glove—Hughes’ first playoff goal with Minnesota.
Just two shifts later, Oettinger made a sprawling leg save to deny a 2-on-1 rush from Nico Sturm and Marcus Foligno, who had both assisted on Hughes’ earlier goal. The Stars tied the game early in the second period on Wyatt Johnston’s fourth playoff goal, capitalizing on a power play that had been their only consistent offensive spark in the series. Minnesota’s own power play came up empty, though Mats Zuccarello came close with a shot that deflected off Oettinger’s shoulder and then the crossbar.
Dallas took their first lead of the night late in the second period when Mavrik Bourque pounced on a fortunate carom off the end boards. But the Wild responded with resilience, setting the stage for Hughes’ heroics in the third. Game 1 of the second-round series against Colorado is expected to take place at Ball Arena in Denver, likely on Monday, though the NHL has yet to confirm the date and time.
For Wild fans, this series win is more than just a milestone—it’s a statement. The team is proving they can rise to the occasion, and with players like Hughes and Wallstedt stepping up, the road to 16 wins feels a little more achievable.