Wild Game Day number 42
Wild Record (27-9-5 59 pts)
Road Record (13-5-5)

Opponent: Chicago Blackhawks (27-13-5 59 pts)
Home Record (17-4-4)

Site: United Center, Chicago, Il

Time: 6:00PM CT

TV: NBC Sports Network (NBCSN)

Last Season Results:
10/30 Blackhawks 4 @ Wild 5
12/1 Wild 2 @ Blackhawks 1
2/21 Blackhawks 1 @ Wild 6 (TCF Bank Stadium)
3/20 Wild 3 @ Blackhawks 2 (SO)
3/29 Blackhawks 1 @Wild 4

The Wild begin their second half tonight in Chicago for the first of four meetings with the Blackhawks this season. It is always a big game when the Wild play Chicago but this season's matchups will be the most important regular season battles between these two, with each entering the game tied atop the West with 59 points.

It is only January but potential four point games are huge when the dust settles at the end of the season. Finishing first also keeps the winner out of the 2-3 matchup in the playoffs. It is way to early to talk about that but the magnitude of division games will elevate from here on out.

Minnesota has won seven straight regular season games against the Hawks including all five last season. They are beginning to believe that they have broken the Blackhawks jinx that has plagued them in three of the last four postseasons, but that too has nothing to do with January games.

Tonight the Wild will have to play a smart simple game after playing last night in Dallas. They got a lot of puck luck early in that game last night and managed to hold on and pull off a 5-4 win. Not at all one of their better 60 minute performances but yet again they found a way to win.

Chicago is coming off their worst loss of the season a 6-0 drubbing in Washington on Friday night. That loss cost the players a day off as Hawks coach, Joel Quenneville ran his team through a very tough practice yesterday in preparation for tonight's tilt with the Wild.

Once again it will be an NBCSN game for the Wild and Blackhawks, which means more of the same fodder of Kane/Toewes/Keith versus Dubnyk/Suter and of course the resurgence of Eric Staal. Both Blackhawks fans and Wild fans know their teams are a lot more than the obvious stars and in order to be great teams it is everyone pulling in one collective direction.

So tonight is round one of four between Chicago and Minnesota and possibly for the first time in the matchup the Wild are the hunted and the Blackhawks the hunter.

Let's Play Hockey!

Join the Discussion: » 10 Comments » Post New Comment

» Walker Up, Goligoski On LTIR

» Wild Look To Tighten Up The D Zone

» New Season Of Hope For Wild

» Kirill Gets The "A"

» Zuccarello Extended For 2 Years