ST. Paul, Minn. — Matt Boldy delivered in dramatic fashion, tipping in the game-winner with under 30 seconds left in overtime to lift the Minnesota Wild to a 3-2 victory over the Dallas Stars on Saturday, evening their first-round playoff series at two games apiece.
The decisive moment came when Jared Spurgeon fired a shot toward the net that Boldy redirected past goaltender Jake Oettinger. Left uncovered in front, Boldy used a subtle deflection to seal Minnesota’s first home overtime playoff win in more than a decade.
The Wild needed late-game resilience to even reach overtime. After falling behind late in regulation, Marcus Foligno tied the game with just over five minutes remaining, battling in front of the net to push home a second-effort goal.
Minnesota nearly had earlier chances to win it, including two disallowed goals by Boldy—one wiped out due to goaltender interference and another ruled a kicking motion. Still, the forward remained undeterred and ultimately finished the job when it mattered most.
In net, Jesper Wallstedt was outstanding, turning aside 43 shots to keep the Wild within reach throughout the night. His steady presence helped Minnesota withstand extended pressure, especially while shorthanded.
Dallas found success on the power play once again, with Jason Robertson and Miro Heiskanen each scoring with the man advantage. The Stars’ special teams have been a major factor in the series, consistently capitalizing on limited opportunities.
At even strength, however, Minnesota had the edge. Brock Faber got the Wild on the board earlier in the game with a shot that deflected into the net, helping offset the team’s struggles on the power play.
Despite a strong performance from Oettinger, who made 40 saves, Dallas couldn’t close it out. The Stars also dealt with a scare when defenseman Nils Lundkvist exited in the second period after suffering a cut from an accidental skate and did not return.
With the series now tied 2-2, the focus shifts back to Texas. Game 5 is set for Tuesday night in Dallas, where both teams will look to seize momentum in what has become a tightly contested matchup.
