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Dumba Set The Tone, Hartman With The Winner!

April 18, 2023, 1:06 PM ET [10 Comments]
Dan Wallace
Minnesota Wild Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Wow, what a first game of the series that one was. It had some of everything one would expect from a rivalry opening match. Big saves, timely goals, nastiness, villains on both sides, fans totally engaged throughout.

Wild take game one in double overtime, with Ryan Hartman capitalizing for the winner 12:20 into the second overtime.

The story of the game of course was the Matt Dumba hit on Joe Pavelski, that left the Stars forward motionless on the ice. The original call was going to be a major penalty on Dumba, but after the officials reviewed the play, it was deemed not to be. Dumba was jumped by Max Domi and the series was officially on.

Every time Dumba touched the puck he was booed and he had to endure many extra shots and runs from the Stars, but the veteran defenseman remained poised and relished the moment. Dumba was noticeable the entire night and arguably played his best game.

Sam Steel, playing in his first ever NHL playoff game scored and enormous goal after blocking a shot and then taking the headman pass from Gustav Nyquist for the breakaway goal. That line with Marcus Foligno was great all night with their defensive zone coverage, physical play and two goals to boot.

Brock Faber making his playoff debut did not look out of place to say the least and his stick on puck play saved the game for the Wild earlier in the second overtime. Faber was counted on in critical times and he did not look out of place by any means.

Filip Gustavsson got the nod for his first playoff game as well and he too played as we have come to see the "Gus Bus" perform all season. Calm cool and collected and out on top of the crease swallowing up pucks and settling the play.

Dallas gave the Wild fits scoring on their first two powerplays in a total of 9 seconds. They also took over the territorial play through much of the third period and both overtime. The Wild PK came up big killing two Stars powerplays in overtime to allow them to notch the eventual game winner.

Game one in the books, looking forward to what unfolds on Wednesday in big D.
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