Dallas at Minnesota

A young Dallas team is fortunate to be up 2-1, after a 2-1 win at home in Game 2 and then getting clobbered the last game 5-3. Dallas is on the road again, a young team that is short on defense and is playing only its second postseason series in the past eight years. Dallas has unraveled in the defensive zone for sustained stretches this season, including the last game, ranking #19 in the league in goals allowed. The Stars blew a 2-0 lead in Game 3, going nearly 50 minutes without scoring as the Wild controlled the action, finishing with a 25-17 shots-on-goal advantage. Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen had only 20 saves on 24 tries, while Minnesota veteran goalie Dubnyk stopped 14 of 17 shots. The Wild's interim coach John Torchetti put forwards Kurtis Gabriel and Zac Dalpe on the fourth line and scratched Ryan Carter and Jarret Stoll. Torchetti has been calling for more crashing the net, and the Wild came through, winning the battle of hits and face-offs. Minnesota has the far better defense (ninth in goals allowed), is on an 8-4 run at home in the postseason, plus 10-5 when playing on one day of rest. With the home team 40-16 when these teams clash, grab the home dog and play on Minnesota in Game 4.