The Minnesota Wild came into the second round of the Western Conference playoffs with almost an air of invincibility and inevitability about them.
They were the league’s hottest team over the last 30 games of the regular season—with an “out of nowhere… Vezina Trophy candidate in net—and fairly easily dispatched the winner of their division, the St. Louis Blues, in the first round.
Thus there were some who felt the Wild would go on to beat Chicago—who had struggled somewhat in Round 1 against another Central Division team, Nashville—in a similar fashion.
Clearly, now down 2-0, it hasn’t worked out that way so far for the Wild.
They very much still can win this series, and it’s more than possible they will gain some momentum with a victory on home ice in game 3.
But after losing a close contest in Game 1, the Wild were pretty squarely beaten up and down the ice in game 2. The first 30 minutes were close, but it seemed Chicago had the better scoring chances and more puck possession. And from the middle of the second period on, the Blackhawks controlled the game, capitalizing on a series of Minnesota miscues—but also doing all the little things necessary to force miscues and win a game and a series.
As in Game 1, Chicago was dominant in the faceoff dot. Antoine Vermette, after going 11-3 in game 1, was 11-5 in game 2. Bryan Bickell had a nearly implausible 12 checks—and some of his leave marks—in game 2, 11 in game 1. The Hawks got goals from their top 3 lines in game 2, after getting them on each of their four lines in game 1.
Puck possession, balance, timely big hits. A nice formula in the playoffs.
The Hawks themselves know the helpless feeling of trying to get back into a playoff game, over and over again, while getting destroyed in the faceoff dot. Faceoff wins and physical matchups at center were a big part of the Kings’ WCF victory over Chicago last year—a reminder that the price paid for Vermette, in the end, might not be too high after all.
All that said, the Wild aren’t sounding like a beaten team. They can play a lot better, and more importantly, they know it. They will be sky high coming out in front of their fans at the Xcel Energy Center tomorrow night.
But in the back of their minds, there has to be a seed of doubt. All Everything goalie Devan Dubnyk has not been All . . . that great. And while an argument can be made the Blackhawks barely squeaked by in game 1, they had a fairly easy walk in game 2. Taking nothing from the Blues, the Blackhawks seem to be bringing it at a higher level in this series than St. Louis did in Round 1.
And in fact, while not perhaps consistently firing on all 32 cylinders yet, the Blackhawks have played some pretty good hockey since Game 5 of the first round.
Corey Crawford gave up a soft goal on Minnesota’s lone tally, but was otherwise outstanding last night.
Patrick Kane is back to being Patrick Kane.
Duncan Keith has struggled defensively at times, but his offensive game is better than ever.
Teuvo Teravainen seems to get better with every game.
And the role players—like Bickell and Vermette—are fulfilling their duties exceptionally well.
For the Blackhawks, the pressure is somewhat off—they can play loose and hard and go after the road win that will give them a stranglehold on the series and that much closer to what would be their 5th Western Conference Final appearance in the last 7 years.
I’ll preview game 3 tomorrow.
JJ
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