This wild Stars defensive stat shows why they won 2OT Game 3 thriller

The Dallas Stars took a 2-1 series lead in their first-round Stanley Cup Playoffs matchup with the Minnesota Wild. The Stars took Game 3 in double overtime, as Wyatt Johnston scored the game-winner.

Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger was great in the game, stopping 29 of 32 shots. Still, one defensive stat shows why Oettinger was able to have a great game, per Mike Kelly of NHL Network.

“The Dallas Stars played 92 minutes and 10 seconds of playoff hockey last night without allowing a shot on net from the most dangerous area of the ice,” Kelly posted on X, formerly Twitter.

The high-danger area is a diamond in front of the net, with the top point being at the far hash mark. Minnesota scored all three of its goals outside of that area. In 2025-26, nearly half of the goals in the league came from that high-danger scoring area.

This is something the Stars did great at all year. In five-on-five situations, the Stars allowed the fourth fewest high-danger scoring chances in the NHL. They allowed just 69 goals in those situations from high danger areas, which was good for fourth in the league.

The defense also did its job to make sure the high-danger chances did not get to the net. The Stars’ defense blocked 31 shots in the double overtime thriller. Miro Heiskanen blocked five shots in the game, while Esa Lindell blocked four in the winning effort.

If the defense can continue to play at this same level, the Stars will have a massive advantage in Game 4. The Wild will be looking to even the series against the Stars on Saturday with a 5:30 p.m. ET puck drop.

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