Wild Face Stars in Playoffs with Goalie Choice Pending

ST. PAUL, Minn. The Minnesota Wild began their Stanley Cup playoff run on Friday with a trip to Dallas, where they face the Stars in a best-of-seven first-round series starting Saturday afternoon at American Airlines Center. Coach John Hynes kept the identity of his starting goalie under wraps after Thursday's practice, expressing equal confidence in veterans Filip Gustavsson and rookie Jesper Wallstedt.

Hynes, who has rotated the two netminders throughout the regular season, declined to name a Game 1 starter, saying the decision would come closer to puck drop. "We have two excellent goaltenders. We've had two excellent goaltenders all year long," Hynes said. He added that the team would approach the series day by day, leaving open the possibility of using both in the matchup. "We'll go to Game 1 together as a team, and then we'll see how that goes."

Gustavsson, 27, enters as the more experienced option in his third NHL season, having made 49 starts for the Wild and posting a 4-6 playoff record. Three years ago, he earned a 4-6 victory over the Stars in double overtime of their series opener, stopping 51 shots in his postseason debut. However, his form dipped late in the regular...