Wild vs. Stars, Game 5 Live Stream

Game 4 was pivotal - a win by the Wild would give the series a whole new tone heading back to Dallas for Game 5.

Jason Spezza scored the go-ahead goal with his skate, Ales Hemsky and Patrick Eaves each scored on a second-period power play, and the Stars defeated the Minnesota Wild 3-2 on Wednesday night to push their series lead to 3-1.

Dallas Stars goalie Antti Niemi of Finland deflects a shot during the first period of Game 4 in the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup hockey playoffs against the Minnesota Wild Wednesday, April 20, 2016, in St. Paul, Minn. "Now we got to go home and try and find a way to get back to Dallas". Spezza said about the first power play goal Dallas scored.

The Stars' strategy of rotating goaltenders also appeared to pay off in the final period.

The Wild tried to make too many ideal plays early on, as opposed to throwing pucks on net and testing goalie Antti Niemi, making his first start of the series in place of Kari Lehtonen. "We've done it in their building this year. Everyone can see that, but I think the way he defends, blocking shots and things like that, those are the things that your teammates see", captain Mikko Koivu said, "and that's what you need in the playoffs". The Minnesota winger broke down the ice and fed the puck into Charlie Coyle who buried the chance, restoring the Wild's lead. Niemi then stopped 28 shots in their 3-2 win in Game 4, but gave up two goals in less than 5 1/2 minutes Friday night.

Haula and Niederreiter were the Wild's most productive forwards after interim coach John Torchetti took over following the firing of Mike Yeo. The Stars were outshot the rest of the way, but had the better of the scoring chances, including the eventual game victor that saw a Demers pass ricochet off the leg of Spezza with 1:09 remaining in the second.

However, the Wild showed some fight in a 5-3 Game 3 victory, and they are one victory away from sending the series back to Dallas all squared.

That unit was shut out as Minnesota was outscored in the two games at Dallas, however.

As in the first two games of the series it can be clearly said that carless penalties by the Wild directly affected the scoring and momentum of the game. Nate Prosser and Jonas Brodin failed to pick up Eaves sneaking behind them as both players were watching Russell the entire time.

"We've got to focus on one game", Pominville said. "We had been doing such a good job killing it, so it was very disappointing to let them in". They got it done on their power play, we didn't tonight, and we have to make sure that we take their strengths away.

"Just because we have done it before does not mean it is going to happen again", Rangers forward Mats Zuccarello said.

Niemi is likely to be in net again Friday after improving to 11-4-2 with a 1.94 goals-against average against Minnesota in his career.

Dallas got a power-play goal before the period was half over to tie the game, briefly.

Injuries: Wild LW Zach Parise (back) and LW Thomas Vanek (ribs) are out. "I'll just keep pushing it and see where it goes", said Vanek, who's missed seven straight contests. Stars C Tyler Seguin (lower body) is out. He played Game 2 on Saturday after missing a month because of a slight cut on his left Achilles tendon, but he missed Games 3 and 4.