DALLAS – In the waning moments of overtime, Charlie Coyle fell down, the Dallas Stars took off on a 3-on-0, and Bruce Boudreau promptly … turned his head and didn't even sneak a peek.
"Then I heard the crowd … not cheering," the Wild coach said, laughing. "There was a 3-on-0 and there's only three men on the ice, you've got to think something bad's coming up."
Not this time.
Cody Eakin missed the net, Tuesday's game got to a shootout, Jason Pominville and Mikko Koivu each scored tying goals — Koivu's to prevent the Wild from losing — and in Round 5, Chris Stewart buried the dagger to another big 3-2 Wild victory.
The Road Warriors, despite having a two-goal lead — actually, at least a two-goal lead — vanish for the fifth time in seven games, survived to break a franchise record with a 13th consecutive road game with at least a point (11-0-2).
The Wild — which leads the Western Conference and Central Division by two points and avoided consecutive losses in regulation for only the second time this season — leads the NHL with 35 road points.
"You look at our track record on the road lately and it's been pretty good," said Pominville, who gave the Wild a 1-0 lead with his third goal in six games and improved to 3-for-3 this season in shootouts. "We feel comfortable. We feel like we can win whether we're up or down. Tonight we were able to stay focused, stay positive and find a way."
After the lead Pominville and Koivu provided in the second period, Jason Spezza forced Ryan Suter into a turnover and Tyler Seguin instantly lifted the Stars back into the game.
"We were playing almost close to a perfect road game," said goalie Devan Dubnyk, 8-2 in his past 10 starts. "Unfortunately, they created a play and got back in the game. You could feel them coming from there."
Dubnyk was outstanding, but the Stars drew a 5-on-3 of 1:52 in the final minute of the second. Jamie Benn's cross-slot pass deflected off Marco Scandella and right to Patrick Eaves for the tying goal.
"That's five pretty good players to try to kill a 5-on-3 against, especially when you get a bit of a lucky one," Dubnyk said.
At that point, the Wild actually was saved by the buzzer. Players were incensed at some dubious officiating throughout, but particularly referee Brian Pochmara watching Antoine Roussel rip a stick out of Jason Zucker's grip and fling it against the boards, nearly striking the official. They were upset right before Minnesota's two penalties because referee Frederick L'Ecuyer watched as Benn skated with Zucker to the red line holding his face.
"I thought the intermission came at a good time," Koivu said.
Added Boudreau, "They were a little wound up. You just grit your teeth and hope you survive it."
The Wild did.
"Third period we played smart," said Koivu, whose 14th goal came on a second-period power play. "We didn't give them much. It's never easy to win on the road, so that was a good road game."
In the shootout, Eaves opened the scoring, but Pominville tied it with his 28th career shootout goal. In the fourth round, after Dubnyk denied Seguin and Patrick Sharp, Benn scored.
Boudreau was given a look on the bench from Stewart. The vet wanted a try.
"Bruce gave me a look back like, 'Not yet,' " Stewart said.
Boudreau explained, "I didn't want him to have to go where he had to tie it up. I wanted him to go win it. I knew I was saving Mikko because he has the experience, and he wouldn't crack under the pressure."
Koivu didn't, smoothly scoring his 40th career shootout goal on his 97th attempt. After Dubnyk stuffed Spezza, Stewart scored the ninth shootout goal of his career — and fifth deciding goal.
"I'm just glad I could contribute and help the team win," Stewart said before the Wild returned to Minnesota for its final game before the All-Star break Thursday against the St. Louis Blues.
