Spezza's Skate Lifts Stars Past Wild 3-2 in Game 4
Stars take 3-1 series lead over the Minnesota Wild
By Dave Campbell ••
Dallas Stars center Jason Spezza talks about his game-winning goal in the team’s 3-2 road win over the Minnesota Wild Wednesday night.
With a determined victory in Minnesota's deafening arena, the Dallas Stars picked up a valuable souvenir for the trip home.
They revived their lagging special teams, too, pushing the Wild to the edge of elimination.
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ST PAUL, MN - APRIL 20: Stephen Johns #28 of the Dallas Stars passes the puck along the boards and away from Charlie Coyle #3 of the Minnesota Wild during the second period of Game Four of the Western Conference First Round during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 20, 2016 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. The Stars defeated the Wild 3-2. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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ST PAUL, MN - APRIL 20: Marco Scandella #6 of the Minnesota Wild falls to the ice as Cody Eakin #20 of the Dallas Stars controls the puck during the first period of Game Four of the Western Conference First Round during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 20, 2016 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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ST PAUL, MN - APRIL 20: Vernon Fiddler #38 of the Dallas Stars controls the puck against Ryan Suter #20 of the Minnesota Wild during the first period of Game Four of the Western Conference First Round during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 20, 2016 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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ST PAUL, MN - APRIL 20: Radek Faksa #12 of the Dallas Stars takes control of the puck as his teammate Jamie Benn #14 is checked into the boards by Ryan Suter #20 of the Minnesota Wild during the first period of Game Four of the Western Conference First Round during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 20, 2016 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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ST PAUL, MN - APRIL 20: Devan Dubnyk #40 of the Minnesota Wild deflect a shot by Colton Sceviour #22 of the Dallas Stars as Ryan Suter #20 of the Minnesota Wild defends during the first period of Game Four of the Western Conference First Round during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 20, 2016 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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ST PAUL, MN - APRIL 20: Marco Scandella #6 of the Minnesota Wild trips while skating after the puck with Cody Eakin #20 of the Dallas Stars during the first period of Game Four of the Western Conference First Round during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 20, 2016 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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ST PAUL, MN - APRIL 20: Colton Sceviour #22 and Kris Russell #2 of the Dallas Stars celebrate a goal against Devan Dubnyk #40 of the Minnesota Wild by teammate Ales Hemsky #83 on the power play during the second period of Game Four of the Western Conference First Round during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 20, 2016 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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ST PAUL, MN - APRIL 20: Ales Hemsky #83 of the Dallas Stars controls the puck against Erik Haula #56 and Ryan Suter #20 of the Minnesota Wild during the second period of Game Four of the Western Conference First Round during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 20, 2016 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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ST PAUL, MN - APRIL 20: Charlie Coyle #3 of the Minnesota Wild controls the puck against Mattias Janmark #13 of the Dallas Stars during the second period of Game Four of the Western Conference First Round during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 20, 2016 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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ST PAUL, MN - APRIL 20: Patrick Eaves #18 of the Dallas Stars gets a shot past Devan Dubnyk #40 of the Minnesota Wild to score on the power play during the second period of Game Four of the Western Conference First Round during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 20, 2016 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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ST PAUL, MN - APRIL 20: (L-R) David Jones #12, Jason Zucker #16, Jared Spurgeon #46, Charlie Coyle #3 and Ryan Suter #20 of the Minnesota Wild celebrate a goal against the Dallas Stars by Coyle during the second period of Game Four of the Western Conference First Round during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 20, 2016 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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ST PAUL, MN - APRIL 20: Jason Spezza #90 of the Dallas Stars shoots against Nate Prosser #39 of the Minnesota Wild during the second period of Game Four of the Western Conference First Round during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 20, 2016 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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ST PAUL, MN - APRIL 20: Ryan Suter #20 of the Minnesota Wild checks Mattias Janmark #13 of the Dallas Stars into the boards during the third period of Game Four of the Western Conference First Round during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 20, 2016 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. The Stars defeated the Wild 3-2. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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ST PAUL, MN - APRIL 20: Ryan Suter #20 and Chris Porter #7 of the Minnesota Wild go after the puck with Valeri Nichushkin #43 of the Dallas Stars during the third period of Game Four of the Western Conference First Round during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 20, 2016 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. The Stars defeated the Wild 3-2. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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ST PAUL, MN - APRIL 20: Erik Haula #56 of the Minnesota Wild pulls Colton Sceviour #22 of the Dallas Stars away from a teammate after the whistle during the third period of Game Four of the Western Conference First Round during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 20, 2016 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. The Stars defeated the Wild 3-2. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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ST PAUL, MN - APRIL 20: Jason Spezza #90 of the Dallas Stars celebrates scoring a goal against Devan Dubnyk #40 of the Minnesota Wild as Jason Pominville #29 and Matt Dumba #24 of the Minnesota Wild look on during the second period of Game Four of the Western Conference First Round during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 20, 2016 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. The Stars defeated the Wild 3-2. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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ST PAUL, MN - APRIL 20: Kurtis Gabriel #63 and Mikael Granlund #64 of the Minnesota Wild react after a loss against the Dallas Stars of Game Four of the Western Conference First Round during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 20, 2016 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. The Stars defeated the Wild 3-2. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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ST PAUL, MN - APRIL 20: Antoine Roussel #21 of the Dallas Stars controls the puck against Matt Dumba #24 of the Minnesota Wild during the third period of Game Four of the Western Conference First Round during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 20, 2016 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. The Stars defeated the Wild 3-2. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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ST PAUL, MN - APRIL 20: Stephen Johns #28 of the Dallas Stars passes the puck along the boards and away from Charlie Coyle #3 of the Minnesota Wild during the second period of Game Four of the Western Conference First Round during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 20, 2016 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. The Stars defeated the Wild 3-2. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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ST PAUL, MN - APRIL 20: Jonas Brodin #25 of the Minnesota Wild and Radek Faksa #12 of the Dallas Stars go after the puck along the boards during the second period of Game Four of the Western Conference First Round during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 20, 2016 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. The Stars defeated the Wild 3-2. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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ST PAUL, MN - APRIL 20: (L-R) Jason Demers #4, goalie Antti Niemi #31 and Kris Russell #2 of the Dallas Stars celebrate a win against the Minnesota Wild of Game Four of the Western Conference First Round during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 20, 2016 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. The Stars defeated the Wild 3-2. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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ST PAUL, MN - APRIL 20: Devan Dubnyk #40 of the Minnesota Wild makes a save in net as Jared Spurgeon #46 of the Minnesota Wild and Patrick Eaves #18 of the Dallas Stars look on during the first period of Game Four of the Western Conference First Round during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 20, 2016 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. The Stars defeated the Wild 3-2. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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ST PAUL, MN - APRIL 20: Antti Niemi #31 of the Dallas Stars makes a save in net against the Minnesota Wild during the second period of Game Four of the Western Conference First Round during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 20, 2016 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. The Stars defeated the Wild 3-2. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
Jason Spezza scored the go-ahead goal with his skate, Ales Hemsky and Patrick Eaves each scored on a second-period power play, and the Stars defeated the Minnesota Wild 3-2 on Wednesday night to push their series lead to 3-1.
"It's a typical playoff road win right there," Spezza said. "Just hunker down in the third period and hold a lead, big saves from our goalie, and good penalty kills."
Antti Niemi assumed the net from Kari Lehtonen, who started the first three games, and stopped 28 shots for the Stars. They'll host Game 5 in Dallas on Friday.
"That's a luxury that we've had all year. You're starting to see the benefits of having fresh goalies all the time," Spezza said.
Jason Pominville and Charlie Coyle both gave the Wild the lead with second-period goals, but they weren't able to sustain the momentum from that spirited comeback in Game 3 for the entire night.
"I liked our game. Hey, you know what? We've just got to go win a game in their building. That's the bottom line," Wild coach John Torchetti said.
The Wild finished the game with a 6-on-4 after a high-stick penalty on Antoine Roussel with goalie Devan Dubnyk pulled, but the Stars tightened and allowed only one shot on target over the 84-second two-man advantage. In fact, the Dallas defense was sound from start to finish, clogging the seams and steering many of Minnesota's shots to the outside for bad-angle attempts.
"When we made a few mistakes," Pominville said, "they made us pay right away."
By the time the first period was half-finished, the Stars had cast aside their sluggishness from the previous contest that saw them manage only 17 shots on net. After a scoreless but fast-paced first period, the floodgates opened on both sides in the five-goal middle frame.
Pominville, playing on that thriving third line with Erik Haula and Nino Niederreiter, scored his third goal of the series by crashing the crease and knocking in Niederreiter's fluttering rebound shot off his shin.
Then the Wild got a little sloppy, and the Stars seized the opportunity. With Colton Sceviour screening Wild goalie Devan Dubnyk, Hemsky's slap shot evened the game with 6 seconds left on the first Dallas power play.
Fourth in the NHL during the regular season at 22.1 percent, the Stars scored only once in 13 opportunities over the first three games of this Western Conference quarterfinal matchup.
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DALLAS, TX - MARCH 11: The Dallas Stars ice girls celebrate a goal against the Chicago Blackhawks in the first period at American Airlines Center on March 11, 2016 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
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DALLAS, TEXAS - APRIL 09: A Dallas Stars ice girl cleans the ice during a game between the Nashville Predators and the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center on April 9, 2016 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
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DALLAS, TEXAS - APRIL 09: A Dallas Stars ice girl cleans the ice during a game between the Nashville Predators and the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center on April 9, 2016 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
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DALLAS, TEXAS - APRIL 09: A Dallas Stars ice girl picks up hats after a Jason Spezza #90 of the Dallas Stars hat trick against the Nashville Predators in the third period at American Airlines Center on April 9, 2016 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
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DALLAS, TEXAS - APRIL 09: A Dallas Stars ice girl cleans the at American Airlines Center on April 9, 2016 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
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DALLAS, TX - MARCH 11: The Dallas Stars ice girls celebrate a goal against the Chicago Blackhawks in the first period at American Airlines Center on March 11, 2016 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
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DALLAS, TX - FEBRUARY 13: A Dallas Stars ice girl cleans the ice in the third period at American Airlines Center on February 13, 2016 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
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DALLAS, TX - JANUARY 23: The Dallas Stars ice girls sweep the ice in the first period at American Airlines Center on January 23, 2016 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
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DALLAS, TX - JANUARY 09: The Dallas Stars ice girls pose for a photo during a game against the Minnesota Wild in the first period at American Airlines Center on January 9, 2016 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
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DALLAS, TX - DECEMBER 22: The Dallas Stars ice girls celebrate a goal against the Chicago Blackhawks in the second period at American Airlines Center on December 22, 2015 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
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DALLAS, TX - MARCH 23: The Dallas Stars ice girls clear the ice as the Stars take on the Buffalo Sabres at American Airlines Center on March 23, 2015 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
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DALLAS, TX - MARCH 23: The Dallas Stars ice girls clear the ice as the Stars take on the Buffalo Sabres at American Airlines Center on March 23, 2015 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
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DALLAS, TX - FEBRUARY 21: The Dallas Stars ice girls clean the ice in the second period at American Airlines Center on February 21, 2015 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
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DALLAS, TX - FEBRUARY 21: The Dallas Stars ice girls clean the ice in the second period at American Airlines Center on February 21, 2015 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
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DALLAS, TX - FEBRUARY 21: The Dallas Stars ice girls clean the ice in the second period at American Airlines Center on February 21, 2015 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
"We went back to just trying to shoot the puck," coach Lindy Ruff said.
Coyle answered 63 seconds later with the most skillful goals of the series, fighting through a would-be hooking penalty on Stars defenseman Alex Goligoski as he nudged the puck forward, snagged it in the air and set it back down to set up a right-left deke on Niemi and backhand it in the corner.
Niederreiter took a slashing penalty a few minutes later, though, and Eaves followed with a redirection that eluded Dubnyk.
"We had the crowd into it, the momentum was on our side and then we seemed to take the penalty," Wild defenseman Ryan Suter said. "We had been doing such a good job killing it, so it was very disappointing to let them in."
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ST PAUL, MN - APRIL 18: Valeri Nichushkin #43 of the Dallas Stars and Jared Spurgeon #46 of the Minnesota Wild skate after the puck in the first period of Game Three of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 18, 2016 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. The Wild defeated the Stars 5-3. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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ST PAUL, MN - APRIL 18: Jamie Benn #14 of the Dallas Stars controls the puck as he falls to the ice against Ryan Suter #20 of the Minnesota Wild during the first period of Game Three of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 18, 2016 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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ST PAUL, MN - APRIL 18: Matt Dumba #24 of the Minnesota Wild hangs onto Antoine Roussel #21 of the Dallas Stars during the first period of Game Three of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 18, 2016 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. Dumba was called for a in interference penalty on the play. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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ST PAUL, MN - APRIL 18: Patrick Sharp #10 of the Dallas Stars shoots adjacent Jonas Brodin #25 of the Minnesota Wild during the first period of Game Three of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 18, 2016 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. Sharp scored a goal on the play. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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ST PAUL, MN - APRIL 18: The Dallas Stars celebrate a goal against the Minnesota Wild by Patrick Sharp #10 during the first period of Game Three of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 18, 2016 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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ST PAUL, MN - APRIL 18: Chris Porter #7 of the Minnesota Wild celebrates scoring a goal against the Dallas Stars during the first period of Game Three of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 18, 2016 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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ST PAUL, MN - APRIL 18: Radek Faksa #12 of the Dallas Stars controls the puck against Jared Spurgeon #46 of the Minnesota Wild during the second period of Game Three of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 18, 2016 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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ST PAUL, MN - APRIL 18: Mattias Janmark #13 of the Dallas Stars controls the puck against Jonas Brodin #25 of the Minnesota Wild during the second period of Game Three of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 18, 2016 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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ST PAUL, MN - APRIL 18: Jason Pominville #29 of the Minnesota Wild gets the puck away from Cody Eakin #20 of the Dallas Stars during the second period of Game Three of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 18, 2016 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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ST PAUL, MN - APRIL 18: (L-R) Jason Pominville #29, Erik Haula #56 and Nino Niederreiter #22 of the Minnesota Wild celebrate a goal against the Dallas Stars by Haula during the second period of Game Three of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 18, 2016 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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ST PAUL, MN - APRIL 18: Colton Sceviour #22 of the Dallas Stars controls the puck against Jonas Brodin #25 of the Minnesota Wild during the second period of Game Three of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 18, 2016 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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ST PAUL, MN - APRIL 18: Patrick Sharp #10 of the Dallas Stars breaks away from Marco Scandella #6, Jason Zucker #16 and Justin Fontaine #14 of the Minnesota Wild with the puck during the second period of Game Three of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 18, 2016 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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ST PAUL, MN - APRIL 18: Matt Dumba #24 and Jason Pominville #29 of the Minnesota Wild celebrate a goal by Pominville as Patrick Sharp #10 of the Dallas Stars looks on during the second period of Game Three of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 18, 2016 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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ST PAUL, MN - APRIL 18: Mikael Granlund #64 of the Minnesota Wild controls the puck against Cody Eakin #20 of the Dallas Stars during the second period of Game Three of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 18, 2016 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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ST PAUL, MN - APRIL 18: Colton Sceviour #22 of the Dallas Stars celebrates scoring a goal as Zac Dalpe #27 of the Minnesota Wild looks on in the third period of Game Three of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 18, 2016 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. The Wild defeated the Stars 5-3. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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ST PAUL, MN - APRIL 18: The Minnesota Wild celebrate a win against the Dallas Stars in Game Three of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 18, 2016 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. The Wild defeated the Stars 5-3. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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ST PAUL, MN - APRIL 18: Mikko Koivu #9 of the Minnesota Wild celebrates a goal against the Dallas Stars in the third period of Game Three of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 18, 2016 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. The Wild defeated the Stars 5-3. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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ST PAUL, MN - APRIL 18: David Jones #12 of the Minnesota Wild (L) and Radek Faksa #12 of the Dallas Stars go after the puck in the third period of Game Three of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 18, 2016 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. The Wild defeated the Stars 5-3. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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ST PAUL, MN - APRIL 18: Kari Lehtonen #32 and Johnny Oduya #47 of the Dallas Stars react as Mikko Koivu #9 of the Minnesota Wild celebrates a goal in the third period of Game Three of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 18, 2016 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. The Wild defeated the Stars 5-3. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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ST PAUL, MN - APRIL 18: Mikko Koivu #9 of the Minnesota Wild gets the puck past goalie Kari Lehtonen #32 to score a goal as Alex Goligoski #33 and Johnny Oduya #47 of the Dallas Stars look on in the third period of Game Three of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 18, 2016 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. The Wild defeated the Stars 5-3. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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ST PAUL, MN - APRIL 18: Zac Dalpe #27 of the Minnesota Wild and Jason Demers #4 of the Dallas Stars go after the puck in the third period of Game Three of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 18, 2016 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. The Wild defeated the Stars 5-3. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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ST PAUL, MN - APRIL 18: Fans celebrate an empty net goal against the Dallas Stars by Jason Pominville #29 of the Minnesota Wild in the third period of Game Three of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 18, 2016 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. The Wild defeated the Stars 5-3. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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ST PAUL, MN - APRIL 18: The Minnesota Wild celebrate a goal by Chris Porter #7 as Antoine Roussel #21 of the Dallas Stars skates away in the third period of Game Three of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 18, 2016 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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ST PAUL, MN - APRIL 18: Valeri Nichushkin #43 of the Dallas Stars and Jared Spurgeon #46 of the Minnesota Wild skate after the puck in the first period of Game Three of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 18, 2016 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. The Wild defeated the Stars 5-3. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
Finally, with 69 seconds remaining before the second intermission, Jason Demers launched a shot that ricocheted perfectly off the front of Spezza's left foot for a 3-2 lead.
After acquiring Niemi in a trade with San Jose last summer to pair him with Lehtonen, the Stars carefully rotated the 32-year-olds throughout the season, with each goalie getting exactly 25 wins. Lehtonen posted a shutout in Game 1, but he wasn't as sharp in Game 3, making the transition a natural one for Ruff.
"We've stayed with the program. We've used both of them. We're comfortable using both of them," Ruff said. "Both of these guys have done a real good job."
NOTES: Wild LW Thomas Vanek is still carrying the "day to day" label with his upper-body injury. "I really ramped it up the last few days here, and I feel good, but again, I just need time, and there's not a whole lot of it right now. I'll just keep pushing it and see where it goes," Vanek said. ... Niemi raised his career postseason record to 36-26. ... Stars D Kris Russell returned to the lineup after missing the last game with an illness. ... Haula has 10 goals and 14 assists in 30 games including the playoffs under Torchetti, who replaced Mike Yeo in mid-February.
