The ’72-’73 Minnesota North Stars defeated both previous franchise UNP representatives before clinching their firs berth. (via icehockey.wikia.com)
Here is the 2016 Minnesota North Stars Qualifying Tournament in its entirety.
The 5th-seeded ’72-’73 Minnesota North Stars took a strangle hold on this series with a 3-1 series lead, but the 2nd-seeded ’81-’82 Minnesota North Stars were able to force a Game 7. The ’72-’73 North Stars took the opening game, 5-2, thanks to two goals from Dean Prentice and three assists from Bill Goldsworthy. The ’81-’82 North Stars responded by taking Game 2 by a score of 6-4 courtesy of a four-point performance from Dino Ciccarelli. The ’72-’73 North Stars then took the next two goals by a combined score of 12-6. J.P. Parise scored five of the ’72-’73 North Stars’ seven goals in Game 3 while Goldsworthy and Dennis Hextall led them offensively in Game 4 with three points each. The ’82-’83 North Stars stayed alive in Game 5 with an overtime, PP winner from defenseman Craig Hartsburg, it was his fourth point of the game. Meanwhile, Danny Grant scored twice and added an assist for the ’72-’73 North Stars in the loss.
Then, in Game 6, the ’82-’83 North Stars won easily, 5-1. Both Neal Broten and Al MacAdam posted four point nights in the win with Broten posting two goals and two assists while MacAdam tallied four assists. Then came Game 7. The two teams combined for five goals in the first period alone and the ’72-’73 North Stars led 3-2 heading into the second period. Each team scored a goal in the second period as they ’72-’73 North Stars held a 4-3 lead going into the third. The ’82-’83 North Stars weren’t able to complete the comeback, obviously, as each team scored once in the third for a 5-4 final. Defenseman Barry Gibbs stepped up for the ’72-’73 North Stars with a two-goal performance in the win.
| 1st Period | 2nd Period | 3rd Period | Overtime | Total | |
| ’72-’73 North Stars | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | 5 |
| ’81-’82 North Stars | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 2 |
GAME SUMMARY: ’72-’73 MNS – 5 ’81-’82 MNS – 2 (1-0 ’72-’73 MNS)
STARS OF THE GAME:
1st Star: LW – Dean Prentice (’72-’73 MNS) – 2 G 0 A 2 P +2 3 S
2nd Star: RW – Bill Goldsworthy (’72-’73 MNS) – 0 G 3 A 3 P +3 3 S
3rd Star: RW – Al MacAdam (’81-’82 MNS) – 2 G 0 A 2 P +1 6 S
| 1st Period | 2nd Period | 3rd Period | Overtime | Total | |
| ’72-’73 North Stars | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | 4 |
| ’81-’82 North Stars | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | 6 |
GAME SUMMARY: ’81-’82 MNS – 6 ’72-’73 MNS – 4 (1-1)
STARS OF THE GAME:
1st Star: RW – Dino Cicarelli (’81-’82 MNS) – 1 G 3 A 4 P +2 6 S
2nd Star: D – Craig Hartsburg (’81-’82 MNS) – 1 G 1 A 2 P +2 8 S
3rd Star: C – Bobby Smith (’81-’82 MNS) – 1 G 1 A 2 P +2 9 S 2 PIM
| 1st Period | 2nd Period | 3rd Period | Overtime | Total | |
| ’81-’82 North Stars | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 4 |
| ’72-’73 North Stars | 2 | 2 | 3 | — | 7 |
GAME SUMMARY: ’72-’73 MNS – 7 ’81-’82 MNS – 4 (2-1 ’72-’73 MNS)
STARS OF THE GAME:
1st Star: LW – J.P. Parise (’72-’73 MNS) – 5 G 0 A 5 P +4 12 S
2nd Star: C – Dennis Hextall (’72-’73 MNS) – 0 G 3 A 3 P +3 4 S
3rd Star: RW – Danny Grant (’72-’73 MNS) – 1 G 1 A 2 P Even 3 S
| 1st Period | 2nd Period | 3rd Period | Overtime | Total | |
| ’81-’82 North Stars | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 2 |
| ’72-’73 North Stars | 3 | 0 | 2 | — | 5 |
GAME SUMMARY: ’72-’73 MNS – 5 ’81-’82 MNS – 2 (3-1 ’72-’73 MNS)
STARS OF THE GAME:
1st Star: C – Dennis Hextall (’72-’73 MNS) – 0 G 3 A 3 P +3 4 S
2nd Star: RW – Bill Goldsworthy (’72-’73 MNS) – 1 G 2 A 3 P +3 11 S
3rd Star: G – Gilles Meloche (’81-’82 MNS) – L 5.00 GAA .904 SV% (47 SV’s)
| 1st Period | 2nd Period | 3rd Period | Overtime | Total | |
| ’72-’73 North Stars | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| ’81-’82 North Stars | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
GAME SUMMARY: ’81-’82 MNS – 5 ’72-’73 MNS – 4 (OT) (3-2 ’72-’73 MNS)
STARS OF THE GAME:
1st Star: D – Craig Hartsburg (’81-’82 MNS) – 1 G 3 A 4 P +2 9 S 2 PIM
2nd Star: RW – Danny Grant (’72-’73 MNS) – 2 G 1 A 3 P +3 3 S
3rd Star: LW – Brad Palmer (’81-’82 MNS) – 1 G 1 A 2 P +3 3 S
| 1st Period | 2nd Period | 3rd Period | Overtime | Total | |
| ’81-’82 North Stars | 1 | 3 | 1 | — | 5 |
| ’72-’73 North Stars | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 1 |
GAME SUMMARY: ’81-’82 MNS – 5 ’72-’73 MNS – 1 (3-3)
STARS OF THE GAME:
1st Star: C – Neal Broten (’81-’82 MNS) – 2 G 2 A 4 P +4 8 S
2nd Star: RW – Al MacAdam (’81-’82 MNS) – 0 G 4 A 4 P +4 0 S
3rd Star: G – Gilles Meloche (’81-’82 MNS) – W 1.00 GAA .974 SV% (38 SV’s)
| 1st Period | 2nd Period | 3rd Period | Overtime | Total | |
| ’72-’73 North Stars | 3 | 1 | 1 | — | 5 |
| ’81-’82 North Stars | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | 4 |
GAME SUMMARY: ’72-’73 MNS – 5 ’81-’82 MNS – 4 (4-3 ’72-’73 MNS)
STARS OF THE GAME:
1st Star: D – Barry Gibbs (’72-’73 MNS) – 2 G 0 A 2 P +3 6 S
2nd Star: RW – Danny Grant (’72-’73 MNS) – 0 G 3 A 3 P +2 4 S
3rd Star: C – Jude Drouin (’72-’73 MNS) – 1 G 1 A 2 P +2 4 S
Up next is the 2016 Florida Panthers Qualifying Tournament!
