In a night that will be remembered in Minnesota for years to come, Quinn Hughes delivered a playoff performance for the ages, scoring twice to lead the Wild to a 5-2 victory over the Dallas Stars in Game 6 on Thursday night. The win marks Minnesota's first playoff series victory in 11 years—a drought that had stretched across eight first-round exits since 2015.
Hughes, acquired from Vancouver in December in what was the biggest trade in franchise history, broke a 2-2 tie midway through the third period. His shot from the left circle deflected off Stars defenseman Ilya Lyubshkin's skate and past goalie Jake Oettinger, sending the Xcel Energy Center crowd into a frenzy. The defenseman also added an assist, proving why he was worth the blockbuster deal.
Matt Boldy, who has been a force throughout the series, sealed the victory with two empty-net goals—his team-leading fifth and sixth of the series. Vladimir Tarasenko also found the back of the net, while goaltender Jesper Wallstedt turned aside 22 shots to keep the Stars at bay.
What made this win particularly impressive was the Wild's dominance at even strength. All three of Minnesota's goals came at full strength, and they outscored Dallas 17-5 in even-strength situations over the series, including a 12-4 edge at five-on-five. It's the kind of disciplined, hard-nosed hockey that wins in the playoffs.
Next up for Minnesota is a daunting challenge: the Presidents Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche, who have been resting since sweeping the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday. The Avs will be well-rested, but the Wild are riding a wave of momentum that hasn't been seen in the State of Hockey in over a decade.
In other playoff action, the Anaheim Ducks continued their Cinderella run, eliminating Connor McDavid and the two-time defending Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers with a victory in Game 6. Leo Carlsson, Troy Terry, and Chris Kreider each recorded a goal and two assists, while Lukas Dostal made 25 saves in a standout performance. The Ducks, who ended a seven-year postseason absence, will face either the Vegas Golden Knights or the Utah Mammoth in the second round.
For the Oilers, it's a bitter end to a season that saw them post their worst regular-season record since 2021. Connor Murphy and Vasily Podkolzin scored for Edmonton, but it wasn't enough to stave off elimination.
As the Wild prepare for their showdown with Colorado, fans can already feel the electricity in the air. This is a team that has waited a long time for this moment—and they're not done yet.