The Stars had been mired in a slump, winning just once in their last six games, while the Wild’s baggage included a three-game losing streak.
Dallas struggled to get pucks behind goalie Devan Dubnyk, the same problem the Wild were having at the other end with Ben Bishop. And neither team’s power play could convert despite plenty of chances.
Even Wild winger Luke Kunin and Stars defenseman Roman Polak looked identical after dropping their gloves for a second-period fight, peeling away from each other with similarly bloodied, battered faces.
But this mirror image eventually shattered, and it was the Wild left to pick up the pieces after the Stars broke the stalemate for a 2-1 overtime win Saturday in front of 19,074 at Xcel Energy Center that sent the Wild into the four-day holiday break shouldering a season-high four-game slide.