The Minnesota Wild have finally broken their decade-long playoff drought, advancing past the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2015—and they did it in style on Thursday night.

Former Michigan Wolverines defenseman Quinn Hughes and ex-Detroit Red Wings forward Vladimir Tarasenko were the catalysts in a decisive 5-2 Game 6 victory over the Dallas Stars at Grand Casino Arena. The win sends the Wild into a highly anticipated second-round matchup against the Colorado Avalanche.

Hughes, who was traded from the Vancouver Canucks to Minnesota in December after being heavily linked to the Red Wings, delivered a two-goal performance that electrified the home crowd. His offensive fireworks were matched by Tarasenko, who more than doubled his goal output this season with the Wild after a quiet 11-goal campaign last year in Detroit.

Tarasenko isn't the only former Red Wing making noise in these playoffs. Veteran defenseman Jeff Petry, who started the season with the Florida Panthers before being dealt to Minnesota, has also been a steady presence on the blue line.

The Red Wings alumni presence extends beyond the Wild. Anthony Mantha and Elmer Soderblom, now with the Pittsburgh Penguins, were recently eliminated in the opening round by Luke Glendening and the Philadelphia Flyers. Meanwhile, goaltender Alex Lyon, who spent two seasons in Detroit, is on the cusp of a second-round appearance with the Buffalo Sabres—they face the Boston Bruins in Game 6 on Friday.

And while he's not on the ice, former Red Wings first-round pick Joe Veleno is part of a Montreal Canadiens squad that's just one win away from eliminating the Tampa Bay Lightning.

For Wild fans, this series win is more than just a milestone—it's a statement. With Hughes and Tarasenko leading the charge, Minnesota looks poised to make some serious noise in the Western Conference.