Dallas Stars Vs. Minnesota Wild: Morrow Gives Dallas 2-1 Lead After The First Period

The Dallas Stars have gotten goals from their captain and leading goal-scorer, Brendan Morrow, and their leading point-getter, Brad Richards, to lead the Minnesota 2-1 at the XCel Energy Center. The Stars must win today’s game in regulation or overtime to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs. A shootout win or a loss of any kind means the Chicago Blackhawks will survive and make the post-season.

The Wild came out flying, and eventually struck first. At 6:05, Brad Staubitz got the rebound of a Brett Burns shot. He waited out just long enough and made a great backhand to give the Wild the lead. He beat Kari Lehtonen for his fourth goal of the season. It almost looked as if another team headed towards a “win and in” situation would falter early, but the Stars got their game in gear.

Richards tied the game at 12:22. The Stars came out on a two-on one with Jamie Benn and Brad Richards. The puck eventually ended up on the stick of the trailer, Loui Eriksson, who fed it back to Richards and beat Jose Theodore glove side. It was Richards’ career-high 28th goal of the season, and it tied the game at 1-1.

The Stars got a controversial power play later in the period. Greg Zanon went off on a controversial high stick at 14:47. Dallas was able to set up and get another one, as Brendan Morrow ripped one past Theodore at 16:07 to make it 2-1. The Stars went 1-for-2 on the man advantage in the first period, while the Wild did not get a power play chance. Dallas outshot Minnesota 15-7 in the period.