• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Stars, Wild collide in Minnesota

Oct 12, 2013 - 3:04 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - After recording a decisive victory in their first road game of the season, the Dallas Stars will shoot for a third straight win when they visit the Minnesota Wild in Saturday's battle at Xcel Energy Center.

The Stars had five days off before visiting Winnipeg on Friday and the club looked well-rested in the 4-1 victory over the Jets. Tyler Seguin had two goals and two assists, including a tally during a three-goal first period for Dallas, which kicked off a three-game road trip on a positive note.

Jamie Benn had a goal and two assists and Alex Chiasson added a goal and one helper for the Stars, who began the campaign with a loss to Florida before notching wins against Washington and Winnipeg.

"First couple of shifts were a little rough but I thought after that we really started to skate well," Dallas head coach Lindy Ruff said.

However, it wasn't all good news for the Stars, who saw No. 1 goaltender Kari Lehtonen leave the game in the second period with a lower-body injury. Lehtonen stopped all 21 shots before exiting and he is considered to be day- to-day.

Dan Ellis, who relieved Lehtonen on Friday and recorded 22 saves, could get tonight's start for Dallas.

While Dallas takes aim at a third straight victory, the Wild will try to build off their first win of the season when they take the ice on Saturday.

Minnesota began its 2013-14 schedule with an 0-1-2 record before recording a 2-1 home win in Thursday's meeting with the Winnipeg Jets. The Wild will try to make it two straight on home ice tonight before departing for a four-game road trip.

Matt Cooke, who signed a three-year deal with the Wild over the summer, provided the deciding goal in Minnesota's first win of the season, scoring his second goal of the campaign just after the midway point of regulation.

Cooke gave Minnesota a 2-1 lead over the Jets at 10:30 of the second period. He followed up a Torrey Mitchell shot from a sharp angle along the goal line to the left of Winnipeg goaltender Ondrej Pavelec by rushing the crease and poking the disc home.

Josh Harding stopped 14 shots and Jonas Brodin added the other tally for the Wild.

"It's the little things that add up to make a difference, and that's what we saw," Minnesota head coach Mike Yeo said.

Minnesota claimed two of its three meetings against the Stars during the lockout-shortened season of 2013, but Dallas has won four of six overall in this series. However, the Wild have taken three of the past four encounters in St. Paul.