Stars Beat Wild 4-3 in 2OT as Johnston Wins Game 3

Wyatt Johnston tipped home a Miro Heiskanen shot 12 minutes and 10 seconds into double overtime on Thursday to give the Dallas Stars a 4-3 win over the Minnesota Wild in Game 3 of their first-round NHL playoff series. The power-play deflection, completed well past midnight, handed Dallas a 2-1 series lead and underscored Johnston's knack for delivering when the stakes are highest.

A Wild Swing From 2-0 to 2OT

According to AP match reports carried by The Washington Post, Fox Sports, KSAT and Local10, Dallas opened the game fast, jumping to a 2-0 lead in the first period on goals from Mikko Rantanen and Jason Robertson. Minnesota responded with three straight goals to take the lead, a run that reflected the depth the Wild have leaned on throughout their first-round push.

Matt Duchene tied the game at three on a power play midway through the third period, only seconds after his own backcheck had prevented a short-handed goal by Matt Boldy. That two-way sequence, equal parts defensive effort and scoring finish, set the tone for the two overtimes that followed.

Johnston, Again, in the Clutch

The decisive goal was Johnston's third of the series, spread across just three games, and his sixth game-winning goal across four career postseasons. The young forward now owns a playoff resume built on late-game composure and a willingness to plant himself in the blue paint against collapsing defences.

Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt made 32 saves in defeat, keeping Minnesota in a game that required every bit of his compete level through regulation and two extra frames.

What It Means for the Series

Dallas now carries a 2-1 series lead into Game 4, with a chance to move within one win of the second round. The Stars' ability to convert on the power play in a second-overtime moment is the kind of detail that tends to define playoff outcomes.

Game 4 looms as the pivot point of the series.