WILD SCOUTING REPORT
KEY PLAYERS
Ryan Suter, D
Coming off a career-best 51 points, Suter plays half the game and will see plenty of — if not all of — Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin. Suter quarterbacks the Wild's highly frustrating power play. He ranked sixth in the NHL in power-play shots blocked (49 of 109 attempts), but that .450 percentage is well higher than the five players with more shots blocked.
Devan Dubnyk, G
There's no doubt the Stars will get a multitude of scoring chances. Dubnyk has had a tendency this season to give up a goofy goal per game. The Wild won't be able to afford that.
Mikko Koivu, C
The first-line center led the Wild in scoring, but in 28 playoff games since 2013, he has only two goals and nine assists. The Wild needs more from Koivu with Zach Parise injured.
MUST STEP UP
Charlie Coyle, RW
Coyle needs to rediscover his hard-nosed, strong-on-the-wall play. He had eight hits in the past 13 games and no goals in the last 18. As first-line right wing and the net-front guy on the first power-play unit, Coyle must assert himself.
X FACTOR
Erik Haula, C
Haula, who has a lower-body injury, went through a 23-game stretch where he had 21 points He centers the checking line that John Torchetti wants to use against Dallas' top line. Haula's defense needs to continue to lead to offense.
BREAKING IT DOWN
Offense
The Wild had twelve 10-goal scorers, tied for most in the league. On the other hand, it had three 20-goal scorers and one of them, Parise, likely won't play. The Wild needs much more from Jason Zucker (two goals in the past 31 games), Jason Pominville (no goals in past 11) and continued strong playoff play from Nino Niederreiter.
Defense
The Wild had the ninth-best goals against (2.49 per game) and gave up the seventh-fewest shots (28.6). One of the most mobile blue lines in the NHL — with Suter, Jared Spurgeon, Jonas Brodin, Marco Scandella and Matt Dumba — will need to join the attack.
Goaltending
The Wild might have an edge. Dubnyk went 32-26-6 this season with a 2.33 goals-against average, .918 save percentage and five shutouts. He stole a game in Dallas in January by stopping 15 of 16 shots in the third period.
Special teams
The Wild's power play was middle of the pack (18.5 percent) and its penalty kill was a colossal disappointment (77.9 percent, 27th in NHL). Faceoffs will be huge against a potent Dallas power play.
PROJECTED LINEUP
Forward lines: Jason Zucker-Mikko Koivu- Charlie Coyle; Nino Niederreiter-Erik Haula-Jason Pominville; Chris Porter-Mikael Granlund-David Jones; Ryan Carter-Jarret Stoll-Justin Fontaine.
Defense pairs: Ryan Suter-Jared Spurgeon; Marco Scandella-Jonas Brodin; Matt Dumba-Christian Folin.
Goalies: Devan Dubnyk; Darcy Kuemper.
Spares: W Jordan Schroeder, D Nate Prosser.
Injured: W Thomas Vanek (upper body), W Zach Parise (back), C Erik Haula (lower body).
STARS SCOUTING REPORT
KEY PLAYERS
Jamie Benn, LW
Last year's Art Ross Trophy winner had career highs this season in both goals (48) and points (87), finishing second in the league in scoring. He has the size to play a power game and has high-end skill. He is the closer on one of the top lines in hockey this season and the biggest reason the Stars' power play is so potent; he had 17 PP goals.
Tyler Seguin, C
Seguin missed the final 10 games of the season because of Achilles' surgery but has practiced this week. With 33 goals and 73 points, his return would make an already deep lineup much more dangerous.
Alex Goligoski, D
He isn't as offensively potent as partner John Klingberg, but Goligoski will be charged with slowing the top Wild line, whichever line that happens to be. With 37 points, the Grand Rapids, Minn., native is no slouch on offense, either.
MUST STEP UP
Kari Lehtonen or Antti Niemi, G
Whichever goalie plays will have to prove he is not the teams' weak spot. Lehtonen was especially hot late, going 9-2-1 down the stretch. Many think this is the one area where the Wild might have the advantage.
X FACTOR
Patrick Sharp, RW
On a team that wasn't in the playoffs last season, Sharp — who came to Dallas after being part of three Stanley Cup-winning teams in Chicago — knows what it takes to win it all in the playoffs.
BREAKING IT DOWN
Offense
An already deep attack should get tougher with Seguin's expected return to the top line, which will send more talented players in to the second and third lines. All Dallas did was lead the league in goals per game and 5-on-5 scoring. The Stars had three players with 33 or more goals, five with 50-plus points.
Defense
The Stars try to outscore you, not stifle you. Dallas was 19th in goals allowed (2.78) and ninth in shots allowed (28.9). Still, the Wild should have opportunities against the offensive-minded Stars defensemen, who at times might find themselves on the wrong side of the puck.
Goaltending
Stars coach Lindy Ruff succeeded in his plan to take two goalies accustomed to playing a lot and splitting time. Both Niemi and Lehtonen won 25 games and both were good down the stretch. But the teams' GAA and save percentage (.904) are relatively pedestrian.
Special teams
The Stars' power play is fourth (22.1 percent), but their 58 PPG were second in the league. The penalty kill (82.3 percent) was 10th; Dallas gave up a league-leading 15 shorthanded goals.
PROJECTED LINEUP
Forward lines: Jamie Benn-Tyler Seguin-Cody Eakin; Valeri Nichushkin-Jason Spezza-Patrick Sharp; Antoine Roussel-Radek Faksa- Ales Hemsky; Patrick Eaves-Vernon Fiddler-Colton Sceviour.
Defense pairs: Alex Goligoski-John Klingberg; Johnny Oduya-Stephen Johns; Kris Russell- Jason Demers.
Goalies: Kari Lehtonen; Antti Niemi.
Spares: LW Travis Moen, C Mattias Janmark, D Patrik Nemeth, D Jordie Benn, D Jamie Oleksiak
Injured: Seguin (Achilles') is questionable. RW Brett Ritchie (lower body) is out.
