Stars shut out Wild in Game 5, take lead in Western 1st Round

DALLAS -- Jake Oettinger made 27 saves, and the Dallas Stars shut out the Minnesota Wild 4-0 in Game 5 of the Western Conference First Round at American Airlines Center on Tuesday.

It was Oettinger's second career shutout in the Stanley Cup Playoffs and the first by any NHL goalie this postseason.
"Oettinger]'s just dialed in right now," Stars forward Jason Robertson said. "That's obviously important in the playoffs. We want to limit more of the chances we give to him, but we know we have one of the best goalies in the world behind us. Definitely an advantage."
Dallas leads the best-of-7 series, 3-2. Game 6 is in Minnesota on Friday.
[RELATED: [Complete Stars vs. Wild series coverage]
Roope Hintz had three assists, and Tyler Seguin and Robertson each had a goal and an assist for the Stars, the No. 2 seed in the Central Division. Hintz has six points in his past two games after he had three assists in Game 4 on Sunday.
"I think we're getting better as the series goes on," Dallas coach Peter DeBoer said. "We got behind early, we've chased it. We wanted to take the opportunity to get out in front for the first time in the series. The last win is always the toughest, but we've got an elimination game in Minnesota. We've been a real good road team all year. I think our guys are excited."
Filip Gustavsson made 21 saves for the Wild, the No. 3 seed in the Central.
"Well, hopefully we can use these next couple of days to recharge and rejuvenate, get excited," Minnesota coach Dean Evason said. "We didn't have our best stuff obviously tonight for whatever reason. So yeah, two days, we expect our group to be excited, jacked to get home. Win one game and see what happens in seven."

Seguin gave Dallas a 1-0 lead at 2:22 in the first period on a net-front scramble off his own rebound on the power play. It was his fourth goal of the series, all on the power play.
"It was a big opportunity for us immediately in the game to set the tone," Robertson said. "Quick goal, and we were able to do that. Unfortunately took that penalty afterwards to nullify the better half of it, but we're glad we got the start."
The goal came eight seconds into a five-minute power play after Wild forward Marcus Foligno hit Stars forward Radek Faksa in a knee-on-knee collision. Foligno was assessed a game misconduct and Faksa was helped off the ice but returned later in the first.
"I was scared something was wrong with the knee," Faksa said. "I think it was just charlie horse or something and it's fine. First of all, I was scared. The first couple of minutes the pain was the worst, then it comes out. It's playoffs, even if you're hurt, you want to come back."

Robertson made it 2-0 Dallas at 11:04 with a power-play goal from the top of the right face-off circle, seven seconds after he hit the far post from the same spot.
"I think, first of all, you just have to start with trying to stay out of the box as much as possible. I think that's always the best PK," Wild forward Frederick Gaudreau said. "And I think we've got to be smarter on when to put pressure and when not to put pressure. They have big weapons, of course, we all know that. I think just trying to be smarter and when to put pressure or not."
Mason Marchment gave the Stars a 3-0 lead at 1:19 in the second period when he put in the rebound of a Seguin shot on the rush.
"We've got to score to get back in the game," Minnesota forward Marcus Johansson said. "It doesn't matter what they do. We're kind of chasing the game a little bit when we're down. We've got to execute a little bit better and get some more pucks to the net and get a couple of ugly ones to get us going."
Ty Dellandrea scored into the empty net at 16:03 in the third period for the 4-0 final.
"This series isn't over. Simple as that," Wild defenseman Matt Dumba said.

NOTES: Hintz leads the NHL this postseason with 11 points (four goals, seven assists). He passed Mike Modano (10 points, 2003 Western Conference Quarterfinal), Sergei Zubov (10 points, 2003 Western Conference Quarterfinal), and Jamie Benn (10 points, 2016 Western Conference First Round) for most points in a playoff series since the Stars relocated to Dallas for the 1993-94 season. The franchise record is 13 (Dennis Maruk, Minnesota North Stars, 1986 Division Semifinal). ... The Wild allowed their ninth power-play goal, the most against them in a playoff series in their history.