Dallas Stars @ Minnesota Wild


The Dallas Stars go after a playoff birth tonight against the Minnesota Wild. The Stars have won 4 of their last 5 games, all games against non-playoff caliber teams. A real test stands before the Stars though, as they face playoff teams in 5 of their next 7 games. During that stretch Dallas will have 2 games against 2nd place Vancouver, chances to extend their lead and clinch the #1 spot in the West.

The Wild have been playing respectable hockey as they trudge along to their first ever playoff birth. They've won 5 of their last 8 games and are struggling against the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, the Edmonton Oilers, and the Nashville Predators for one of the last three playoff spots. The road to one of those 3 spots will be fairly easy for Minnesota. They play only 7 of 14 games against playoff opponents, one of which is against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Lots of questions loom about the Stars choice for a goaltender in tonight's game. With Ron Tugnutt on a 2 game shutout streak, many people believe that Dave Tippet will go ahead and start Ron for the second straight night. I personally think that Hirsch will get the start because of that fact, though if Tippet was using his noggin, he would have started Hirsch against Columbus and not Minnesota.

The Wild have two good choices in Manny Fernandez and Dwayne Roloson, who got a contract extension by the way, both of whom can come in on any given night and play well for the team. Roloson has become more of the starter as the season wears on, and is expected to get the start tonight. He's got a 1.98 GAA to go with a .927 Sv%. He's got a record of 18-14-7 and 3 shutouts.

The Dallas Power Play will be hard pressed to get a goal in tonight's game. For the first time in a few games, the Stars are taking on a team that has a better PK unit than their own, currently ranked 5th. The Wild are 4th in the league with an 86.8% success rate. The PP for the Wild is another story, ranked 27th in the league and not going anywhere soon.

With the Stars about to wrap up their playoff spot and division title, they now can focus their attention on the Vancouver Canucks and Ottawa Senators. Ottawa does not play tonight and will get their next game against the NY Rangers. The Nucks have also played the same number of games as the Stars and do not play until tomorrow night against the St. Louis Blues.

Prediction: Dallas 2, Minnesota 2



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