Wild rally to beat Stars in potential first-round NHL playoff preview

Bobby Brink and the penalty kill came up huge for Minnesota in a 2-1 overtime victory over Dallas on Saturday.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 1:25am

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In a potential first-round NHL playoff preview, the Minnesota Wild defeated the Dallas Stars 2-1 in overtime on Saturday. The Wild's penalty kill was crucial, successfully killing off three penalties in the third period to preserve the tie and get to overtime. Recently acquired Bobby Brink scored the game-tying goal in the second period and then set up Vladimir Tarasenko's overtime winner. Goaltender Filip Gustavsson made 28 saves for the Wild, outdueling the Stars' Jake Oettinger.

Why it matters

This game was an important preview of a potential first-round playoff matchup between the Wild and Stars. The Wild's penalty kill struggled against the Stars in the 2023 playoffs, so their success in this game is a positive sign. The goaltending duel between Gustavsson and Oettinger could also be a key factor if these teams meet in the postseason.

The details

In the third period, the Wild's penalty kill was tested three times and came up big each time to preserve the tie. Bobby Brink, who had an up-and-down game with a double minor penalty late in regulation, made amends by setting up Tarasenko's overtime winner after a strong forecheck. The game featured a matchup of two of the NHL's hottest teams, with the Stars going 15-1-2 in their past 18 games and Oettinger extending his point streak to 14 games.

  • On July 4, Quinn allegedly dove onto the hood of a Waymo vehicle and covered sensors.
  • On July 29, Quinn allegedly damaged a Waymo's tires and driver's side mirror.
  • On August 11, Quinn allegedly stomped on a windshield while someone was inside.

The players

Waymo

An American autonomous driving company and is a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., Google's parent company.

Walker Reed Quinn

A 45-year-old San Francisco resident who has a history of vandalism and was out on bail for prior cases related to Waymo vehicles.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.