Wild Shine Like Stars In Minnesota
Minnesota beats Dallas to advance, and all is right in The State of Hockey tonight.
One of my very favorite sports movies is the 1986 film “Best of Times”, with Robin Williams and Kurt Russell. In it, Williams, whose adult life has been shaped by a dropped touchdown in the big high school game, convinces Russell (as quarterback Reno Hightower) and the rest of the town that all these years later they need to replay the game. The whole town gets into it - love is rekindled, and - Hollywood style - they go down big at half, but rally to win on the last play of the game. Reno Hightower unloads a desperate bomb to Jack Dundee (Williams), who makes the impossible catch for the win.
At the end of the film, Jack’s wife approaches him on the muddy field. Dundee says to her, “I was so lucky…”.
She responded - “No…. you were due.”
The Minnesota Wild were due. They were overdue. And their focus was sharp, intense, and deliberate. They checked hard, they played fast, and they defended with grit. The Stars needed machetes to get to the blue paint Glen Gulutzan wanted them to own, and yet, all Dallas’ blades were dull, and their handlers were gassed.
It’s a lot for a team, playing that deep three straight years. It takes a toll. And the Olympics did us no favors. None at all. The wounds were severe, taking Dallas quietly out of a legitimate shot at the number one seed, and crippling them when they needed all hands on deck.
TNT’s John Forslund had a great line at game’s end - “It’s a shame these two had to meet in the first round, but that’s the neighborhood they live in.” Nice Johnny. Really nice.
In the coming days we’ll talk here about what we saw this spring, and what might be next. Because when a team like this loses in the first round, no matter the opponent, there is an opportunity for real introspection. And that means every stone gets turned from the top down.
Running it back… probably not this time.
Tonight - is as big a night The State of Hockey will ever have. You watched them in there. You saw the joy. It’s new. Fresh. We’ve had our fun - and we will again. But this spring when the Wild score, it’s euphoria among the players. When Dallas finds the net, it’s relief. You saw it. You watched it yourself.
The Stars wanted to win the Cup. The Wild wanted to win a series. This series. Against this team.
Here’s how they closed it out tonight.
