MINNEAPOLIS — Ryan Carter called it a “time warp.”

The snow falling Sunday afternoon at TCF Bank Stadium reminded the Wild winger and Minnesota native of the early mornings and late nights he spent learning to skate as a youngster. At one point, he looked up in the stands and noticed a group of kids sporting White Bear Lake jerseys, conjuring images of his youth and high school hockey days. And the University of Minnesota marching band’s rendition of “Back in Black” as the Wild entered the NHL Stadium Series rink had Carter thinking back to his two seasons of college pucks (nevermind that he spent them in Mankato).

“It was awesome,” said Carter, who had a goal and an assist in Minnesota’s 6-1, outdoor drubbing of loathed Chicago. “In the third there we got up, what was it, 5-0 or something like that, 6-1, and I sat back and said, ‘This is pretty cool.’”

Devan Dubnyk tried to tune it all out. But afterward, he stayed on the ice awhile to take it all in.

“During the game, you don’t get a chance to look around and realize the atmosphere and the size of the stadium that you’re in,” Dubnyk said. “I try not to look around to much in (the) Excel (Energy Center). I think if you look a little too high, sometimes you get a little startled by how many people are actually in there. Today was another one of those days I waited till the game was over to have a good look around.”

Matt Dumba couldn’t wait that long. The scene, the snow, the fireworks, the flames shooting skyward during player introductions — it all engulfed the 21-year-old defenseman. The adrenaline proved useful, as his rebound goal off a Carter breakaway and ensuing open-ice hit on Andrew Desjardins set up an afternoon in which the Blackhawks had zero answers for the woebegone club they’ve knocked out of the past three Stanley Cup playoffs.

“It’s kind of overwhelming,” said Dumba, sporting thick triangles of eye black under his eyes, which he said were inspired by Ray Lewis. “I was excited all day. Right when I got on the ice, I just had this energy. I just wanted to use it the right way.”

Many of the 50,426 that paid top dollar to witness Sunday’s spectacle waited years and years for it to come to fruition. The NHL powers that be finally awarded the State of Hockey one of its made-for-TV affairs that burst at the seams with nostalgia, and a team that saw its coach shown the door a little more than a week ago delivered.

But this party featured more than just the headlining act.

On a day dubbed Hockey Day in America by the league, USA Hockey and broadcast provider NBC, tailgaters lined the lots surrounding the Golden Gophers’ football stadium, some slapping pucks across the concrete and into miniature goals. The Spectator Plaza on Southeast Oak Street brimmed with Wild and Blackhawks sweaters — from the special-issue Stadium Series threads worn by players Sunday to more off-color homages, including a pair dressed as Steve Hanson and Ogie Ogilthorpe from “Slap Shot” — Coke-bottle glasses and afro wig included. Bookended by giant inflatable tabletop hockey players, the beer garden in front of Mariucci Arena was packed leading up to the opening faceoff. So was the Buffalo Wild Wings next door.

When the gates opened, they lined the concourses of this 52,525-seat stadium. It was only the second of 17 outdoor NHL games to not sell out, but the decibel levels didn’t lend much evidence to that shortcoming. Other than an F-16 flyover after Jazmine Sullivan’s national anthem rendition, and Cheap Trick’s first-intermission performance, the day’s loudest cacophonies came from steamed-up Wild fans.

And if you thought 18,000-plus singing Joe Satriani’s “Crowd Chant” after goals or chanting “Craw-ford” at the Chicago netminder was loud, try more than double that.

“They did a great job,” Dumba said of the fans, “and we put on a great show.”

So did the crew that installed and maintained the event’s makeshift sheet, according to players. With the ice lined by potted evergreen trees, gargantuan team, league and sponsorship insignia, and an auxiliary rink for youth teams, there was plenty of pomp and circumstance to go around. Apple Valley goalie Taylor DeForrest, who made 111 saves in a game earlier this winter, was honored alongside Minnesota hockey legends Aaron Broten, Neal Broten, Dave Christian, Phil Housley, Jamie Langenbrunner and Reed Larson, the University of Minnesota’s women’s hockey team and Wright Homes/FHIT, winners of the 2016 National Pond Hockey Championships open division, during the second intermission. Other participants in Saturday’s alumni game featuring past North Stars, Wild and Blackhawks greats were on hand, too; victorious coach Lou Nanne was still wearing his letterman-style North Stars jacket from the day before.

Truth is, the Wild have been in need of such a distraction.

Only eight days removed from coach Mike Yeo’s firing, Minnesota (27-22-10) won its fourth game in a row after dropping eight straight and three of 19 to start 2016. With goals from six different players, 31 saves from Dubnyk and three points apiece from Erik Haula and Jason Pominville, the Wild coldcocked Western Conference leader Chicago (38-19-5) in their most dominant performance of a season gone awry thus far. Concern still hangs heavy, even with Minnesota currently a point out of playoff contention, and players have said they’re largely responsible for Yeo losing his job.

“I think it’s up to them,” said interim coach John Torchetti, still unblemished since his call-up from Iowa to replace Yeo on an interim basis. “It’s not me. That’s the bottom line. Once you make a commitment as a teammate and your other teammates see you play at that level, then it’s up to myself and then the other players to hold everyone else accountable to that style of play.”

Said Ryan Suter: “It’s been a rollercoaster.”

Suter brought his young son Brooks to the press-conference podium Sunday. As the pair got up to leave, and fans beyond the TCF Bank Stadium walls headed for their vehicles or Dinkytown watering holes to cap the weekend, a reporter asked for Brooks’ favorite part about Minnesota’s long-time-coming outdoor extravaganza.

“The win,” Brooks said.

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MINNEAPOLIS — No autographs, please.

The sign greeted the line of patrons snaking its way around The Pint Public House’s bar Friday night in downtown Minneapolis. Yet Mike Modano stood at the front of it with a Sharpie in hand, grinning as he signed a smattering of memorabilia — including several North Stars jerseys bearing his name and No. 9 — and posed for pictures as part of a pre-arranged meet-and-greet.

The highest-scoring American in NHL history was more stoic Saturday afternoon as he stepped off a tour bus and walked briskly into TCF Bank Stadium. Two hours later, he and 22 other local hockey greats of yesteryear passed underneath a stream of green-lit fireworks and onto the temporary Stadium Series ice here. And the pregame ovation from 37,922 at Saturday’s alumni game when Modano’s name was called ranked among the evening’s loudest.

It’s that kind of zeal that in less than a half-decade endeared Modano to Minnesota — and Minnesota to Modano.

“It’s nothing you wouldn’t have expected,” Modano said. “Just great fans, just passionate people that are loyal about the game and the history of the organization.”

They came to celebrate the State of Hockey’s heritage Saturday. The elder among them have Lou Nanne, Tom Reid, Neal Broten and Dino Ciccarelli. Today’s heroes wear red and go by names like Ryan, Zach and Devan.

But those who endured Minneapolis-St. Paul’s hockey black hole from 1993-2001 also remember fondly the seismic flash before the void.

“The guy, he’s a franchise builder,” said Nanne, who coached the North Stars and Wild alums to a 6-4 victory over Chicago’s old-timers Saturday. “There are very few players that are both franchise players, but then they bring you out of your seats. They’ve got that kind of charisma. He’s one of them, and it’s something that’s special for this community and … in Dallas. But he’s still a big part of Minnesota hockey culture.”

Playing on a line with Brian Bellows and Brian Rolston, Modano skated in a Minnesota sweater for the first time since Norm Green moved the franchise to Dallas in 1993. The 45-year-old spent the first four seasons of his 21-year Hall of Fame career calling the Met Center home ice.

Nanne drafted Modano four days before his 18th birthday, rendering him the second American to be taken first overall. A rookie year that probably should’ve brought Calder Memorial Trophy honors, a Stanley Cup Finals appearance his sophomore season, and 123 goals and 186 assists later, Green ripped Modano and the North Stars away from the Twin Cities and planted them in Dallas.

The latter wishes things could’ve been different.

“I wish it would’ve worked out where we could’ve been able to stay here for a good, long time,” said Modano, who had an empty-net goal and an assist Saturday. “I would’ve loved to see what we would’ve been able to do with 10, 12, 14 years under our belts here.”

Modano will always be remembered as a (Lone) Star. His number, which he wore in homage to both Gordie Howe and Ted Williams, hangs in the American Airlines Center rafters.

Today, the Michigan native lives in Arizona. He’s married to professional golfer Allison Micheletti, the daughter and niece of Joe and Pat Micheletti. He’s a frequent links-goer himself, often swinging clubs with former Stars teammate and fellow 1999 Cup winner Brett Hull.

Sitting in the victors’ dressing room on TCF’s ground level Saturday night, Modano had the Sharpie out again. This time, he was signing jerseys for the likes of Steve Payne and Reed Larson, part of a flurry of signature exchanges among players as they sipped on Coors Light.

And for one day in the sun, at least, Modano was able to return to the beginning.

“Obviously, it’s a sentimental thing,” Modano said. “My career started here. I had four … of the greatest years (of my life).”

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