Minnesota Wild (1-3)
1.50 Goals For (16th)
3.00 Goals Against (10th)
0.0% Power Play (16th)
90.9% Penalt Kill (2nd)
Top 3 Scorers:
1. #7 Matt Cullen ~ 0G 3A = 3pts
2. #22 Cal Clutterbuck ~ 1G 1A = 2pts
3. #96 Pierre-Marc Bouchard ~ 1G 1A = 2pts
Top PIM's:
1. #9 Mikko Koivu ~ 8 PIM's
Top TOI:
1. #20 Ryan Suter ~ 32:07
Top Goaltender(s):
1. #37 Josh Harding (1-3) 2.48GAA .923%SP
2. #35 Darcy Kuemper (0-0) 3.00GAA .889%SP
Vs.
Chicago Blackhawks (3-1)
3.00 Goals For (7th)
1.50 Goals Against (1st)
9.1% Power Play (15th)
100% Penalty Kill (1st)
Top 3 Scorers:
1. #10 Patrick Sharp ~ 4G 1A = 5pts
2. #88 Patrick Kane ~ 0G 5A = 5pts
3. #29 Bryan Bickell ~ 3G 0A = 3pts
Top PIM's:
1. #27 Johnny Oduya ~ 8 PIM's
Top TOI:
1. #2 Duncan Keith ~ 24:03
Top Goaltender(s):
1. #50 Corey Crawford (3-1) 1.39GAA ,949%SP 1 SO
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A lot of people, myself included wanted to compare this season to 2003's memorable run to the Western Conference Finals. We wanted to relive those good feelings of ambushing some of the Western Conference's elite teams. Yet I hate to burst that bubble but there are a lot of reasons the Wild (or its fans) should not expect a miracle this time. Just like it was in 2003 the Wild find themselves down 3-1 in their series. That Wild team was not explosive offensively, just like the 2013 version. Ok, what's the difference? Its the very reason the Wild find themselves on the brink of elimination.
The Power-less play.
This is where the 2013 Wild are polar opposites of the 2003 version. Nevermind the superior level of talent of the 2013 squad; with a team that had has star calibre talent in its lineup compared to the collection of NHL castoffs. Back in 2003 with that modest amount of talent, that team was able to surprise opponents with a most deadly power play of any team in the post season. Operating at 21.9% the power play kept that Wild team in games and made teams pay for their lack of discipline. The 2013 Wild's power-less play is operating at a smooth 0%, 0 for 15. Considering the Wild have given up a shorthanded goal in the series, you could argue the power plays at less than zero percent. Kyle Brodziak recently suggested that the team's power play use more movement to try to get Chicago out of its defensive shell. Really Kyle, the Wild's power play is a bit static? Thanks for sharing that insight after watching the power play do little or nothing the last 4 games.
The margin of error for the Wild right now is just like its power play, zero. Minnesota basically has to run the table or its season will end in round one as many predicted before the series started. The sad thing is, its not necessarily due to the fact Chicago is such a good team. Chicago, has given the Wild plenty of chances to not only tie the series but one could argue if Minnesota had taken advantage of its opportunities it could be the one leading 3-1 at this point.
Coulda woulda shoulda. We've heard it before. Whether its fair or not, the top line workhorses for the Wild in team captain Mikko Koivu (0 points, and a -5) as well as Zach Parise (1 goal, and a -6) seem to be the prime suspects of the blame game on KFAN's post-game fanline as well as team message boards. That's almost $14.3 million in salary that has contributed a whopping point in 4 playoff games. I doubt Wild owner Craig Leipold, or hopefully Koivu and Parise themselve are satisfied with that kind of production. The team suffered another setback on Tuesday's 3-0 loss to the Blackhawks when they lost Josh Harding for the rest of the game due to a lower body injury when he was crashed into the goal post by Jonathan Toews. It wasn't a dirty play, but momentum certainly faded once Harding stayed off the ice especially when Darcy Kuemper gave up a goal on the first shot taken. It was also at that moment Wild fans learned the team could swap out an injured goalie for another as Harding left the game and suddenly Niklas Backstrom was on the bench.
I would imagine if Backstrom's ready, he'll be between the pipes tonight. That will be the 3rd goaltender the Wild will have used in this post-season. Backstrom was of course supposed to be the starter in Game 1 until he hurt himself during the pre-game warm ups. With Backstrom set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, could this be the last time we see him in a Wild uniform? He's 35 years old and I don't think there is anyway the Wild or another team is going to offer him the $6 million a season he has been paid the last four seasons. Either way, Backstrom is going to have to be tremendous in order for the Wild to have a chance. If he gives up any soft goals and this team could implode in a hurry.
In a strange twist of fate, the apparent good news of Jason Pominville's return to the lineup may have disrupted the delicate team chemistry that had been created in Game 3. I am not saying he was the sole reason the team lost, but because of his addition to the lineup, the 4th line was not really able to be the energy line it used to be since Pominville wasn't going to crash along the boards on the forecheck. The Wild must re-establish that physical play, and forecheck if they want to have a chance to prolong their series tonight. I expect Jake Dowell will be in the lineup along with Stephane Veilleux who has done well enough in a 4th line role.
The Blackhawks know the Wild will be desperate tonight. Patrick Sharp was quoted as saying, "I never think a playoff series is over until I hear that final buzzer." It might sound like a Captain Obvious statement, but its a good attitude to have. It means the Blackhawks will be focused and mentally ready to confront this desperate Wild team and will look to counterpunch and finish the Wild off. It has been Sharp and Bryan Bickell who have ravaged the Wild offensively, not Patrick Kane or Jonathan Toews but that's not to say they couldn't change that tonight either. Toews' especially has been creating more scoring chances with his speed which has caught Wild defenseman off-guard more than a few times while Kane seems content to be the sneaky set up guy and leads Chicago in assists with 5.
The Wild can either go out with a whimper or with some fire; or better yet keep the series alive (at least one more game) with a victory tonight. For some fans, they're already talking as if its 'ok' to make the post-season and that we should just be happy with that. Yet, after thinking about this series so far I think in the years down the road we might be asking ourselves what could have been.
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