Stars’ Miro Heiskanen reveals ‘biggest issue’ in tight Game 5 loss to Wild

The Dallas Stars have watched a 2-1 lead in their first-round Stanley Cup Playoff series against the Minnesota Wild evaporate in a span of 72 hours, and they’re now facing elimination following a 4-2 loss in Game 5 at the American Airline Center on Tuesday.

After losing two straight to their Central Division rivals, the Stars will have to steal a game in the State of Hockey to send the series back to Dallas for a potential Game 7.

The Wild were the better team at 5-on-5 throughout the night, and defenseman Miro Heiskanen admitted that was the difference in the contest.

“We just couldn’t create enough, especially 5-on-5,” Heiskanen told reporters, per NHL.com’s Taylor Baird. “That was the biggest issue tonight. Just have to fix that and get better next game. We just have to simplify. I think there are times where we’re trying to do too much. Just simplify. Get guys to the net, get pucks to the net, and get a couple of crazy ones.

“Right now, we have to play our best game. It’s not the spot you want to be in, but we’re a good road team. We’re going to go on the road and play our best and come back here (for Game 7).”

Heiskanen scored Dallas’ lone powerplay goal, beating Jesper Wallstedt from the point midway through the first period. The only 5-on-5 goal the team scored came with less than four minutes in regulation, and the Stars know that will have to change in Game 6.

“It’s not like we’re not trying,” said captain Jamie Benn, per Baird. “The series is far from over. We’ll see what we can do on the road here. Put more pucks on net. Keep shooting the puck. You get a chance, rip it. Usually, when you do that, good things happen, even if it doesn’t go in. You’ll get a rebound, start some chaos, and we’ll try to do that a little bit more in Game 6.”

The Stars have faced elimination in the first round in two consecutive years — against the Vegas Golden Knights in 2024 and Colorado Avalanche in 2025 — before marching to the Western Conference Final both seasons.

They’re going to need similar magic to advance past a hungry Wild team in 2026.

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