Tyler Seguin scored two power play goals and Jake Oettinger made 33 saves in a scintillating home state show to help the Dallas Stars bounce back from a lopsided loss and beat the Minnesota Wild 3-2 in Game 4 on Sunday by the night to even their NHL first-round playoff series.
Evgenii Dadonov gave the Stars a two-score lead early in the third period just 8 seconds after escaping the penalty area, his third goal of the series. John Klingberg scored for the Wild less than three minutes later against his former team just off a goal-line block at the other end.
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Minnesota Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson (32) defends the net against the Dallas Stars during the first period of Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first round playoff series on Sunday, April 23, 2023. in St. Paul, Minnesota. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
Seguin’s two goals followed questionable penalties on Minnesota’s energetic right wing Marcus Foligno, who was penalized for stumbling with 4:49 remaining before Seguin scored his third goal of the series.
Frederick Gaudreau gave the Wild another chance with his power play goal with 1:20 left, but Oettinger didn’t budge. He capped another golden playoff performance by getting a glove on Marcus Johansson’s short-range slap shot from the right circle with 12 seconds left as the Wild bench quivered in disappointment.
The Central Division foes will move on for Game 5 in Dallas on Tuesday night.
BRUINS PUSH PANTHERS TO THE EDGE WITH GAME 4 VICTORY
Dallas Stars center Tyler Seguin (91) scores a goal against Minnesota Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson (32) during the second period of Game 4 of a hockey Stanley Cup first round playoff series of the NHL on Sunday, April 23, 2023, in St. Paul, Minnesota (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
The Wild again played without center Joel Eriksson Ek, their third leading scorer and true two-way player, with a lower-body injury that has limited him to just one at-bat in the series. He sure could have used his stick and his strength around the goal to score a rebound against Oettinger, the unflappable young goalie who grew up in Lakeville, a half-hour’s drive from downtown St. Paul.
The Wild created many excellent chances with their attack, but their passing game was a bit off. Foligno was denied twice on a breakaway, the rebound attempt deflected off Oettinger’s pad. Wild star Kirill Kaprizov, who scored in Game 1 but has been hounded and pummeled by the stars of every series, also had a breakaway shot that Oettinger deflected.
Oettinger, 24, made a name for himself in the postseason a year ago with a 64-save effort in a Game 7 overtime loss to Calgary.
Dallas Stars center Luke Glendening (11) chases the puck against Minnesota Wild center Frederick Gaudreau during the second period of Game 4 of a hockey Stanley Cup first round playoff series from the NHL, on Sunday, April 23, 2023, in St. Paul, Minnesota. . (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
Foligno was whistled for interference behind his own net late in the second half, a call that had the crowd and Wild’s bench howling. The Stars took advantage of their opportunity, when Seguin hit a puck that was sliding slowly between Filip Gustavsson’s pads after an opening shot by Roope Hintz with Jared Spurgeon trying to get it out.
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Gustavsson made 21 saves for the Wild, who beat the Stars 5-1 in Game 3 to regain their influence after a 7-3 Game 2 loss with Marc-Andre Fleury in goal. The Wild won the first match 2-1 in double overtime.