Stars take 2-1 series lead, edge Wild on Wyatt Johnston's double-OT goal

Field Level Media|published: Thu 23rd April, 02:27 2026

Apr 22, 2026; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Wild defenseman Jake Middleton (5), center Michael McCarron (47) and Dallas Stars left wing Jamie Benn (14) complete for the puck during the first period in game three of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Grand Casino Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

Wyatt Johnston scored a power-play goal with 7:50 left in double overtime to lift the Dallas Stars to a 4-3 win over the Minnesota Wild in Game 3 of their Western Conference quarterfinals series Wednesday night in Saint Paul, Minn.

Matt Duchene and Jason Robertson finished with a goal and two assists apiece for Dallas, which grabbed a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. Johnston and Mikko Rantanen each tallied one goal and one assist.

Marcus Johansson, Joel Eriksson Ek and Michael McCarron scored one goal apiece for Minnesota.

Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger stopped 28 of 31 shots to win the marathon contest.

Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt allowed four goals on 36 shots.

Johnston provided the winning goal on a deflection. Miro Heiskanen fired a shot toward traffic in front of the net, and Johnston redirected it for his third goal of the series.

An early penalty by Minnesota paved the way for Dallas to grab a 1-0 lead on the power play 1:25 into the first period. Robertson zipped a pinpoint pass to Rantanen, who punched in a backhand shot.

The Stars increased their lead to 2-0 with 6:12 to play in the first period. Robertson kept the puck on a two-on-one rush and ripped a wrist shot beneath Wallstedt's glove.

The Wild got on the scoreboard on a power-play goal with 1:40 left in the first period. Johansson fired a shot from the slot that deflected off a pair of Stars defenders and into the net.

Minnesota evened the score at 2-all with 15 minutes to go in the second period. Matt Boldy weaved through the Dallas defense with the puck and slid a pass to a wide-open Eriksson Ek, who capitalized with a one-timer.

The Wild seized a 3-2 lead with 2:35 remaining in the second period. McCarron sprinted into the offensive zone and buried a shot from the slot for his first career playoff goal.

Dallas responded on the power play to make it 3-all with 9:42 to go in the third period. Rantanen waited until Wallstedt was out of position and fed a pass to Duchene, who scored on a one-timer from the left side of the crease.

--Field Level Media

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