The Stars goalie had two timely saves against Gaborik that were key in helping the Stars pull out a 1-0 win over the Wild and run their running streak to five games.

Smith's big save - the save of the game - came at 2:58 of the third when he did the splits to stick out his right leg and kick away a tip-in attempt by a Gaborik, who was slicing towards the net.

"I don't do the splits too often, but it was a moment that called for it,'' Smith said.

And just 15 seconds later Niklas Hagman was finishing off a pretty pass from Loui Eriksson at the other end of the ice for the only score of the game.

"It was just a bang-bang play," said Stars coach Dave Tippett. "Everybody is oohing and aahing over the save that Smith made and we end up with a breakaway at the other end that goes our way."

It's one of those plays that turns a game. A big play at one end and another one at the other. That was the difference on this night.

"The difference between wins or losses are a timely save here or there and then a big goal," said Smith. "It's a huge win."

Smith's other big, timely save came after the Wild killed off a double minor for high sticking Matt Foy late in the second. Just after the second minor had expired Gaborik busted in on net a half step ahead of Matt Niskanen and Smith deftly swept the puck away from Gaborik. A goal there would have been a huge momentum swing to the Wild, who had just gotten a lift from the big kill. Instead, Gaborik retreated to the bench, where he would slam his stick.

Those are the big saves the Stars have been getting during their five-game winning streak since the All-Star break. Marty Turco, who remained in Dallas due to a sore neck, made them in the first four games of this streak and Smith made them in game five.

It was Turco against Daymond Langkow in Calgary, and Smith against Gaborik in St. Paul. Big saves that were key turning points that turned into two points for the Stars.

"Marty was tremendous for the whole [road trip] to Canada and back at home too, and now Smitty played tremendous [tonight]," said Hagman. "It doesn't matter who is in goal, you are going to get a chance to win."

Hagman delivered the other big play for the Stars by getting a puck by Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom, who played a solid game as well. After Eriksson threaded a pass to him, Hagman made a move from his forehand to his backhand and slipped the puck into the net for his 20th goal of the season and his seventh game-winner.

"He's been opportunistic like that all year," Tippett said of Hagman.

Opportunistic is not a word you'd use to describe the Stars' power play. It went 0-6 and missed on a five-on-three and a 4:00 minute chance in the game. But it didn't hurt them in the end.

The Stars also showed some strong discipline in the third. Despite playing a lot in their own end, and already with most of the power plays in the game, the Stars stayed disciplined and didn't give the referees the chance to even up the calls in the game. That helped the cause.

Overall, it was a game that came down to a couple of plays - timely saves by Smith and a big goal by Hagman.

"It's all about finding ways to win right now," said Tippett. "That was a hard-fought game that we found a way to win."