ST. PAUL — The Minnesota Wild beat the Dallas Stars 4-0 inside Xcel Energy Center on Thursday night to finish preseason action with a 5-1 record after going 6-1 in exhibition play a year ago. It's the second time the two teams have faced each other since the playoffs in April as Dallas won 6-1 earlier in the preseason.
The third period alone was worth the price of admission to the preseason finale for this rivalry as two fights occurred 35 seconds apart between Pat Maroon and Jamie Benn; and Brandon Duhaime and Mason Marchment.
In the Wild's first game without their captain and No. 1 blueliner in Jared Spurgeon — who is injured and won't be ready on opening night — two defensive defensemen in Jake Middleton and Jon Merrill stepped up offensively by scoring the game's first two goals.
Middleton beat Jake Oettinger glove side from the top of the left circle with 9:53 left in the first period, the only goal the Lakeville, Minnesota native allowed in the game as Scott Wedgewood played the third period.
After a scoreless second period for both teams, former Wild forward Sam Steel turned the puck over in the offensive zone, which led to a 2-on-1 rush for Minnesota, and it proved to be trouble for the Stars.
The Wild made Steel — who signed with the Stars in free agency this summer — pay as Mats Zuccarello connected with Merrill for a 2-0 Wild lead with 17:08 left in the game and Merrill's first goal since Jan. 10.
Related Reading: Instant analysis, Wild beat Stars 4-0
The Wild took a 3-0 lead thanks to a sweet passing sequence on the power play between Zuccarello, Boldy and Kaprizov, who scored from what looked like an impossible angle.
The Wild's power play created a ton of chances Thursday, but they failed to convert earlier on the man advantage until this goal, which was Kaprizov's third in the preseason.
Then the Wild took a 4-0 lead with 8:40 remaining when Foligno caused a turnover on the forecheck and made a great feed to Marco Rossi in the left circle. The Wild's 22-year-old rookie made no mistake and beat Wedgewood blocker side for his first goal of the preseason.
Rossi looks like a different player compared to this time last year and appears ready to prove he can be an everyday NHL player this season after staying in Minnesota this summer to train.
Filip Gustavsson earned the shutout Saturday night with his calm and patient play, stopping all 22 shots he faced. He likely will get the nod in goal in Thursday's season opener at home against the Florida Panthers.
"We made a conscious effort tonight to get through the neutral zone, get it down there, regardless if we get some chances, let's do some wearing down there," head coach Dean Evason said. ... "Our commitment was real good, Gus was real good, and then we were patient and waited for our offensive opportunities."
Box Score
Shots — Wild (23-22)
Blocked shots — Wild (20-15)
Hits — Wild (20-11)
Faceoffs — Dallas (53%, 31/58)
Wild power play — 1/3
Wild penalty kill — 3/3
Preseason Recap
Game 1: 4-3 win at Colorado
Game 2: 6-1 loss at Dallas
Game 3: 4-2 win over Colorado at home
Game 4: 3-2 win over Chicago at home
Game 5: 3-2 win at Chicago
Game 6: 3-0 win over Dallas at home
Required Reading
• Jared Spurgeon expected to miss a few weeks
• 'His speed and shot are elite': Hunter Haight strives to be 'a name they need to talk about'
