Dallas Stars Focus on Discipline for Game Three

0:00It's April 21st. I'm Corey with the story. This is NHL News today, driven by AI and built for fans. The Dallas stars are laser focused on discipline, heading into Game 3 of their Western conference first round series against the Minnesota Wild. They even things up at one game apiece, with a 4-2 win in Game 2 on Monday, killing all four penalties they took that night. But across the first two games, they've been shorthanded eight times total, which is way too much against a wild power play that ranks second in the league this season at 28.6%. Earlier this week in Game 1, Dallas struggled on the penalty kill, going 2 for 4 and a 6-1 loss. They made smart tweaks for Game 2, pressuring the points, winning key battles, and limiting Minnesota to just five shots. Forward, Colin Blackwell noted the team work smarter, not harder, with better clears and solid goal tending from Jake Oedinger. Players and coaches are stressing stick control and smart line changes after penalties like high-sticking, slashing, tripping, and even too many men in Game 2.

1:07Assistant coach Gulutson highlighted better awareness and quicker play that shut down the wild's entries. Minnesota's John Hines admitted his squad was off on execution and puck battles, vowing adjustments. Meanwhile, the wild my miskey forward, Matsusukurello, who had three assists in Game 1, but set out Game 2 with an upper body injury his. Status for Game 3 remains unclear. Without him quarterbacking from the half wall, their power play loses some edge, especially with Quinn Hughes running the top unit since his trade-in, December. Game 3 tips off Wednesday at 9.30 p.m. Eastern and St. Paul, and if the stars stay out of the box, their penalty kill could pave a clear. Path deeper into the playoffs, keeping that energy managed will be the real test.