The Wild, Marcus Foligno specifically, were penalized in Game 4 for hitting the Stars, who prevailed 3-2 on Sunday at Xcel Energy Center to even the best-of-seven series at 2-2, but don't expect the Wild to tone down the physicality.
"People know that watched the game," coach Dean Evason said Monday before the Wild traveled to Dallas for Game 5 on Tuesday. "That's the way hockey is supposed to be played, especially this time of year. It's supposed to be intensified and ramped up.
"No, we're not going to change the way we play. That's what we believe in. I think everybody does. It was a good hockey game. There wasn't a lot of cheap stuff in that hockey game. They played hard. We played hard. They caught a couple of breaks. We did not."
Foligno was assessed a pair of head-scratching penalties for a gritty style he has displayed throughout Round 1.
First, he was whistled for interference in the second period after colliding with the Stars' Jani Hakanpää behind the net while the puck was near them along the boards.
Later in the third period, Foligno went to check Mason Marchment and connected with Marchment before falling awkwardly in front of the Dallas bench. Foligno was sent to the penalty box for tripping.
During both ensuing power plays, the Stars capitalized, the last goal from Tyler Seguin ending up as the game-winner.
"We're not going to stop playing hard just because of some calls," Evason said. "That's not right. You play the game hard. You play the game right, play physical. That's what you're supposed to do. You're supposed to finish your checks.
