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Wild End Drought, Clinch Series 5-2

5/1/2026

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Summary

Hughes Leads Wild

Minnesota Wild beat Dallas Stars 5-2 in Game 6 on May 1, 2026, clinching the series.
Quinn Hughes scored twice, added an assist and netted the go-ahead goal at 10:38 of the third period.
Matt Boldy contributed two empty-net goals, his fifth and sixth of the series, sealing the win.
The win gave Minnesota its first playoff series victory since 2015, ending eight straight first-round exits and setting a clash with Colorado Avalanche.

Summary

Hynes Confirms Out

Coach John Hynes confirmed Jonas Brodin has a lower-body injury and will miss Game 6.
Jeff Petry will replace Brodin and will pair with Zach Bogosian on the blue line.
Over 19,244 fans filled Grand Casino Arena for Game 5, many waving “Unleash the Wild” towels.
The series-clinching matchup will be broadcast on TNT, TruTV, HBO Max and KFAN FM 100.3, with analysts noting scoring first and avoiding penalties as key for Minnesota.

History

Historical Context

In 1991 the under- .500 Minnesota North Stars upset the league’s top teams to reach the Stanley Cup Final, losing to the Pittsburgh Penguins in game 6 on May 25. In 2026 the Minnesota Wild captured their first playoff series since 2015, with Quinn Hughes scoring twice and Matt Boldy netting the decisive empty-net goal, reviving the state’s hockey tradition.

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Hughes Leads Wild

Minnesota Wild beat Dallas Stars 5-2 in Game 6 on May 1, 2026, clinching the series.
Quinn Hughes scored twice, added an assist and netted the go-ahead goal at 10:38 of the third period.
Matt Boldy contributed two empty-net goals, his fifth and sixth of the series, sealing the win.
The win gave Minnesota its first playoff series victory since 2015, ending eight straight first-round exits and setting a clash with Colorado Avalanche.

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