Stars even series with Wild in Game 2 victory behind Roope Hintz hat trick

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Roope Hintz had a goal in each period, getting his first career hat trick by scoring three different ways, as the Dallas Stars stepped up without Joe Pavelski to get even in their first-round series against the Minnesota Wild.

Hintz scored short-handed on Dallas' first shot in Game 2, added a even-strength goal in the second period and then finished with a power-play goal in the third period of the Stars' 7-3 win over the Wild on Wednesday night.

Dallas Stars center Roope Hintz, left, celebrates with left wing Joel Kiviranta (25) after scoring in the first period of Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the Minnesota Wild, Wednesday, April 19, 2023, in Dallas.  (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

"He's elite and he’s capable of taking over games like that. And we needed him," Dallas coach Pete DeBoer said. "Our team, with what happened with Pavelski the other night, a little bit rattled, we needed our our best players to step up tonight and make a statement. And they did. Every one of them, not just Roope."

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Evgenii Dadonov scored twice for the Stars, while captain Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin both had power-play goals. Miro Heiskanen, their high-scoring defenseman, had four assists, while 100-point scorer Jason Robertson had two. Hintz also had an assist.

The Dallas scoring onslaught came against three-time Stanley Cup champion goalie Marc-André Fleury, who got the start even after 24-year-old Filip Gustavsson made his playoff debut with a franchise-record 51 saves in the series opener the Wild won 3-2 in double overtime.

Minnesota Wild defenseman