Stars Rally Past Wild 5-4 in Playoff Tune-Up

The Dallas Stars rallied from a two-goal deficit to defeat the Minnesota Wild 5-4 on Thursday night at American Airlines Center, delivering a gritty, physical preview of their upcoming first-round Western Conference playoff series. The Central Division rivals, already locked into a best-of-seven matchup, traded roughing penalties and scuffles in a game that highlighted the intensity expected when the postseason begins in a week.

The Stars struck first when Wyatt Johnston scored his 44th goal of the season 4:26 into the opening period, putting Dallas ahead 1-0. Minnesota responded late in the first, capitalizing on a power play as Kirill Kaprizov rifled in a shot just 16 seconds after Johnston's tripping penalty to tie the score at 1-1. The Wild then seized momentum in the second period, with Kaprizov adding his second power-play goal 6:39 in to make it 3-1. Colin Blackwell pulled Dallas within one at 3-2 shortly after, but Ryan Hartman's power-play tally with nine seconds left in the frame pushed Minnesota's lead to 4-3.

Dallas evened the score early in the third when Mikko Rantanen deflected a shot from Thomas Harley past Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson for his 22nd goal. The...