The Wild concluded their exhibition schedule on Friday with a 2-1 loss to the Dallas Stars at Grand Casino Arena.
Joel Eriksson Ek scored for the Wild, and Jesper Wallstedt made 16 saves before being pulled for an extra attacker with 2 minutes, 36 seconds remaining. Minnesota had several good scoring chances, but Dallas’ Casey DeSmith stopped 26 of 27 shots on goal.
The Wild had a 6-on-4 advantage in the final minute but it was disrupted when tempers between the Central Division rivals flared.
Minnesota’s Matt Boldy was tossed for fighting with Thomas Hardy and received a 10-minute game misconduct with 1:16 remaining. Less than 30 seconds later, and Stars veteran Jamie Benn started a fight with Marcus Foligno, and Justin Hryckowian fought Michael McCarren near mid-ice.
Radek Faksa gave the Stars a 1-0 lead midway through the first period, and Eriksson Ek tied it 1:54 into the second period. Hardy scored the game-winner when his wrist shot ricocheted off the skate of Jared Spurgeon and past Wallstedt with 1:22 left in the second.
The Wild finished 1-1-2 in exhibition games. They open the regular season on Thursday against the Predators in Nashville. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m.
The home opener is set for Oct. 3 against Boston at Grand Casino Arena starting at 7 p.m.