Wild vs Stars: Boldija’s Late-Game Heroics Force Playoff Tiebreaker as Series Heats Up

The Minnesota Wild have evened their first-round playoff series against the Dallas Stars at 2-2 after a dramatic overtime victory in Game 4, with Matt Boldy scoring the winning goal just 28.9 seconds into the extra period.

Boldy’s deflection of a shot from captain Jared Spurgeon past Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger proved decisive, coming after the Wild had trailed 3-1 in the series and appeared on the brink of elimination. The goal capped a remarkable comeback that began with Marcus Foligno’s late third-period tip-in to force overtime.

According to multiple reports, Wild coach John Hynes praised Boldy’s performance as emblematic of the team’s resilience, stating, “That’s what Bolds does. He’s a tenacious competitor. The thing I liked about him, it’s a microcosm of the team. You just keep playing. He just continues to do the right things. He continues to play. He continues to push. Plays through whatever the circumstances are and got a huge goal for us.”

The winning goal came after Boldy had previously seen a potential goal overturned for allegedly kicking the puck past Oettinger. In overtime, he positioned himself effectively while Joel Eriksson Ek and Kirill Kaprizov battled in the corner, allowing him to redirect Spurgeon’s shot for the tally.

Foligno’s earlier goal, which came with just 5:20 remaining in regulation, had initially appeared to be a consolation marker as the Wild faced a 3-1 deficit. His backhanded effort from the side of the net tied the game and shifted momentum, setting the stage for Boldy’s heroics.

Goaltender Jesper Wallstedt played a crucial role in keeping the Wild alive, making 43 saves in what was described as a potential playoff record for a rookie. Wallstedt noted the team’s preparedness for extended play, saying, “We know, even though we’re down one, or leading — whatever the game looks like — we’re playing 60 minutes and then we’ll go from there. If we have to play more, we’re ready to play more.”

The victory sends the series back to Dallas for Game 5 on Tuesday evening at the American Airlines Center. With the series now tied, both teams have an opportunity to gain momentum as the best-of-seven sequence continues.

Throughout the contest, the Wild’s special teams struggled, but the contributions from their fourth line and timely offensive plays proved sufficient to overcome the Stars’ pressure. The game remained tied 1-1 after two periods before Dallas increased their offensive pressure in the third.

For the Stars, the loss represents a missed opportunity to take a 3-1 series lead and return to Minnesota with a commanding position. Instead, they must now regroup on the road knowing the Wild have demonstrated their ability to win close games in high-pressure situations.