For Wild fans, it was a thriller that went the wrong way. Final score: 2-1, Chicago wins in overtime as the Blackhawks take a 1-0 lead in their Western Conference Quarterfinal series with Minnesota.
The morning after, here’s what they’re saying about a tense Game 1:
Jim Souhan, Star Tribune:“We can recognize that while Josh Harding will go down as the losing goaltender in the Wild’s 2-1 loss to Chicago at the United Center on Tuesday night, he was the most remarkable player on the ice.”
David Haugh, Chicago Tribune: “When (Bryan) Bickell took a nifty pass from Viktor Stalberg and beat Wild goalie Josh Harding with 3:25 left in OT to win Game 1, the United Center erupted with a mixture of joy and relief. The better team won. But it took the Hawks too long to make it obvious which team was better.
Michael Russo, Star Tribune: “The Wild have to figure out a way to regroup from a tough, tough loss. The Parise-Koivu-Coyle line was solid defensively against the Hossa-Toews-Saad line. Problem is the Toews line (Toews was a beast tonight) smothered the Koivu line and gave them nothing.”
Tom Powers, Pioneer Press: “When Chicago’s Bryan Bickell scored with 3:25 left in the extra period, it marked the end of a strange series opener. But make no mistake about one thing: The Wild now have the Blackhawks’ attention.”
Chad Graff, Pioneer Press: “The Wild didn’t win Game 1. But on a day they found out their do-it-all winger Pominville wouldn’t play, and on a day they lost their starting goalie, the Wild left with more positives than they arrived with.”
Rick Morrissey, Chicago Sun-Times: “The Hawks opened the playoffs with a 2-1 victory over the eighth-seeded Wild on Tuesday night, thanks to Bryan Bickell’s game-winner in overtime. Pressure? What pressure?”
