Matt Dumba and the Minnesota Wild started a defining two-game stretch against the Dallas Stars with a determined performance.
They’re one step closer to a spot in the playoffs.
”That was what fueled the fire
Authentic Martin Kaut Jersey , just wanting to bury these guys,” Dumba said. ”Not let them think that they could potentially get back into this thing by
getting a couple victories against us.”
Dumba scored on a power play and finished with three assists for a career-high four points, leading the Wild past the fading Stars 5-2 on Thursday
night.
”It’s something we talked about, making that gap even bigger and pushing more teams down,” said Zach Parise, who scored 59 seconds after Dumba in the second
period and tacked on an empty-netter in the waning seconds.
Mikael Granlund sparked the Wild with a short-handed goal in the first period , set up by the first of two assists by Ryan Suter, and Jason Zucker scored on a
power play with 11 seconds left before the second intermission.
Even more important than Granlund’s goal was the effort by the Wild that immediately followed it.
Tyler Seguin had set up Benn in the slot for the lead for the Stars less than three minutes into the game, and a high-stick double-minor penalty on Wild
defenseman Ryan Murphy produced a four-minute power play. Granlund scored just
12 seconds in, and the Wild penalty killers took over from there.
”It was a big turning point, and it gave us a lot of life,” coach Bruce Boudreau said.
Jamie Benn and Devin Shore scored for the Stars, who have lost eight straight road games, including six in regulation. They’re just 1-7-2 in their past 10
games overall, staggering into position for the knockout punch to their
postseason hope. They host a rematch with the Wild on Saturday night.
With only four games remaining, the Stars are five points behind current wild-card spot holders St. Louis and Anaheim in the Western Conference
standings. The Blues have six games left, and the Ducks play five more times.
The Stars also trail ninth-place Colorado by four points, with five games to go
for the Avalanche.
”Every mistake we made ended up in our net
Bengals Logan Woodside Jersey , and the chances we had we didn’t finish on,” Stars coach Ken Hitchcock said, adding: ”We’re going to compete at a very
high level, and then the autopsy for us can take place.”
Devan Dubnyk stopped 29 shots for the Wild, who improved to 26-6-8 at home for the second-most points in the NHL. With five games to go, they’re up six
points on the Avalanche in the race to clinch an appearance in the playoffs for
the sixth straight year.
Dumba, who set a career high with his 12th goal on a blistering one-timer , and Zucker gave the Wild’s power play a badly needed boost. They had only one
goal in their previous 26 opportunities until the sizzling second period. The
Stars, meanwhile, were left shaking their heads about the opportunities they
handed the Wild.
”I had a bonehead shot there on the penalty kill,” Seguin said, referring to the sequence before Zucker scored. ”I can’t shoot far-side short-handed, and
they go down and score. That’s a tough play.”
NOTES
Dumba became the first Wild defenseman with four points in a game in franchise history. … Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon, who has missed the past
seven games with a torn right hamstring, could start skating next week, Boudreau
said before the game. Wild defenseman Gustav Olofsson left with an upper-body
injury and was declared questionable to travel to Dallas. … The Stars fell to
2-23-2 when trailing after two periods. … Suter stretched his career high and
franchise record to 45 assists. … Stars defenseman Stephen Johns was being
evaluated for a concussion after leaving in the first period with the injury. …
Zucker has three goals and two assists in three games against the Stars this
season. … Granlund’s was the 10th short-handed goal allowed by the Stars to
match the second-most in the league this season. … Granlund scored for the first
time in 15 games since Feb. 27. … Seguin has 27 points in 23 games against the
Wild. … Announced attendance was 19,350, the largest of the season for the
Wild.
UP NEXT
Stars: After the rematch with Minnesota
Authentic Jaden Schwartz Jersey , Dallas must wrap up the schedule on the West Coast with games at San Jose, Anaheim and Los Angeles.
Wild: Following the quick trip to Dallas, Minnesota plays its final regular-season home game on Monday against Edmonton. Then the Wild finish the
schedule with the same three California road games the Stars have, against the
Ducks, Kings and Sharks.
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What Rick Porcello did six days ago carried over into an outstanding performance.
Porcello allowed one hit in seven innings, Mookie Betts and Andrew Benintendi homered, and the Boston Red Sox beat the Minnesota Twins 9-2 Thursday to avoid a
series sweep.
Xander Bogaerts had two RBIs for the Red Sox, who had a season-high 16 hits, and finished 6-4 on a road trip through Baltimore, Seattle and Minnesota.
”We definitely needed a win today, especially to end this long road trip after dropping the first two games to these guys,” Porcello said.
He was dominant in a game that was 2-0 through six innings.
After a first-inning single by Logan Morrison, ending a 0-for-30 stretch against Boston, Porcello (9-3) retired 19 of 20 Twins hitters, including the
last 16. Throwing 97 pitches, he struck out five and walked one.
Porcello finished seven innings for the first time in 10 starts since April 29. His best previous start of the season was April 12 against the Yankees, when
he allowed two hits and struck out six in seven innings.
Last Friday in Seattle, Porcello allowed four earned runs and seven hits in six innings. But his mood was much different in the final inning.
”I was just pitching a lot more relaxed
Jaire Alexander Youth Jersey , the delivery was smooth and I executed, so I tried to carry that with the tempo and everything into today,” he said.
”He was under control,” said manager Alex Cora.
Kyle Gibson (2-5) allowed seven hits and two earned runs in six innings for Minnesota, striking out five for his ninth quality start this season. He had
only 10 in 2017 and eight in 2016.
Betts hit the first pitch of the fifth inning into the front row of seats in right-center for a 2-0 lead. He finished with three hits and has reached base
eight times in his last three games.
”He likes to take a lot of first pitches and then once in a while ambushes, and he got him that time,” said Twins manager Paul Molitor.
The Red Sox were 5 for 14 with runners in scoring position, finishing the three-game series 7 for 36.
”It was a just couple tough days,” Betts said. ”We came out ready to swing it and we just showed what we can do.”
Bogaerts’ two-run double keyed a three-run seventh against Ryan Pressly. Benintendi hit a two-run shot in the eighth.
PREPARATION PAID OFF
With left-handed hitting Joe Mauer up, Betts, playing right field, shifted to right-center and barely had to move to catch a fly ball. Betts then waved a card
telling him where to play toward the dugout.
”It was an extreme one from the analytical department,” Cora said. ”. I’m glad that it happened. They believe in what we’re doing, but sometimes they see
something extremely out of the ordinary. I was the happiest guy, like `Thank God
they hit it right there.”’
PORCELLO PURPOSE?
Porcello moved into a tie for the American League with his 10th hit batsman in the first, when he knocked Eduardo Escobar down with a fastball that plunked
the major league leader in doubles just above his right elbow. Escobar stayed in
the game for two more innings, but was removed after striking out in the third,
and was diagnosed with a bruise.
In the top of the inning
Donte Jackson Jersey Panthers , J.D. Martinez had to hit the dirt to dodge a high-and-inside pitch from Gibson.
”It didn’t look particularly good to me,” said Molitor, pausing to choose his words carefully.
Said Escobar, through an interpreter: ”I respect Porcello a lot. He’s one of the best pitchers in the league. If he did it on purpose, I don’t really know
what the purpose is behind it. I’ve never done anything against him. I was
trying to protect myself, and we’ll just move on.”
Gibson hit Sandy Leon with a pitch in the sixth. In the game Tuesday, Red Sox starter Chris Sale hit Mauer before Jose Berrios plunked Betts and Mauer was hit
again by reliever Robby Scott.
TRAINERS ROOM
Red Sox: LHP Drew Pomeranz, out since June 5 with left biceps tendinitis, is expected to get on a mound this weekend and throw a bullpen session, according
to Cora.
Twins: OF Eddie Rosario missed the game with a sore throwing shoulder. He is considered day to day. Since May 1, Rosario is hitting .364 with a league-best
68 hits in that span, including 16 doubles and 13 home runs.
UP NEXT
Red Sox: Open a six-game homestand Friday with RHP Steven Wright (2-1, 1.23) scheduled to start against Seattle LHP Wade LeBlanc (3-0, 2.63).
Twins: Welcome Texas on Friday for a three-game weekend series with RHP Fernando Romero (3-2, 4.17) to face the Rangers’ LHP Mike Minor (4-4. 5.35).
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