Power outage at Xcel Energy Center melts some of #NHL's best ice: http://t.co/KgIe3ifafw #mnwild #NHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/tMnhFYds6z
— Pioneer Press (@PioneerPress) May 5, 2015
The ice is ready for Tuesday’s Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals between the Minnesota Wild and the Chicago Blackhawks, but a power outage at Xcel Energy Center caused some of the ice to melt.
According to the Pioneer Press, an overnight power outage in St. Paul caused the ice sheet at ‘The X’ to melt into a slushy mix.
“Following an overnight power outage in downtown Saint Paul, the ice plant at Xcel Energy Center was impacted for a short time,” the team said in a statement Tuesday. “Arena staff acted quickly to implement full capacity, and the ice is ready for tonight’s game.”
The outage didn’t really affect either team’s game-day routine. The Wild hit the ice at 10:30 for their morning skate, while the Blackhawks were on it about an hour later.
Here was some reaction to the condition of the ice following the morning skate.
Mike Yeo on the ice at Xcel Energy Center this morning after it had melted a bit overnight. pic.twitter.com/puhwWGlx0f
— Chad Graff (@ChadGraff) May 5, 2015
Johnny Oduya said he didn't notice anything wrong the ice today after power outage last night at XCel Energy Center
— Chris Hine (@ChristopherHine) May 5, 2015
Bryan Bickell on Xcel Energy Center ice following last night's power outage: "It wasn't the greatest this morning." #Blackhawks
— Chris Kuc (@ChrisKuc) May 5, 2015
Shaw on Xcel Energy Center ice: "It is still better ice than the UC, so guys are excited to play on something like that." #Blackhawks
— Brian Hedger (@BrianHedger) May 5, 2015
Yeo shuffling the lineup for Game 3
Jordan Schroeder in the lineup today for the #mnwild #LakevilleNative #HometownKid pic.twitter.com/g4GMZGTDpq
— Its Raining Sports (@SportsNewsMark) May 5, 2015
The Wild trail the Blackhawks 2-0 in the best-of-seven series, and coach Mike Yeo has been busy shuffling the lineup ahead of Game 3.
The Star Tribune’s Michael Russo reports that Chris Stewart will be out of the lineup because of an arm injury and Minnesota will turn to the speedy Jordan Schroeder.
Yeo only said that Stewart would be day-to-day and did not provide any specifics about the injury or line combinations for the game.
