Minnesota at Dallas

Minnesota is off a bad game, a 4-0 loss in game one, but this is not a bad team. Minnesota has the far better defense (ninth in goals allowed) than Dallas and plenty of playoff experience. Last year in the first round they topped talented St. Louis in six games, winning twice on the road, then gave the eventual champion Chicago Blackhawks all they could handle, losing three one-goal games. Two years ago they beat Colorado in the first round, winning game seven on the road, rallying from an 0-2 deficit in the series. Goalie Devan Dubnyk is a veteran force and the Wild are 9-4 when playing on one day of rest. Dallas is 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 on occasion for sustained stretches this season, finishing #19 in goals allowed. Suspect defense is a huge liability this time of the year, so look for a big bounce-back effort by the proud and veteran Wild. Back Minnesota in game two.