The Minnesota Wild has a monumental task of upsetting the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round of the NHL Playoffs.
Chicago started the season 21-0-3 for an NHL record 24 game points streak to start a season. They finished with a league best 36-7-5 record.
Game one of the best-of-seven series is at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday in Chicago.
Game 1 #mnwild at Blackhawks Tuesday at 7. Game 2 at Chicago Friday at 8:30. Game 3 @xcelenergyctr Sunday at 2. Game 4 May 7 at home at 8:30
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) April 29, 2013
Wild owner Craig Leipold compares his team to the L.A. Kings of last season, who struggled down the stretch before dominating the playoffs en route to a Stanley Cup championship as the No. 8 seed.
Michael Russo previews the series with expected line combinations – which includes Jason Pominville, who returned to practice for the Wild on Monday.
Minnesota was actually the first team to beat the Blackhawks. They did so, 3-2 in a shootout back on January 30.
The Wild’s playoff history, albeit short, is filled with games decided by one goal.
NHL.com’s series preview says the Wild has to play “virtually mistake-free hockey” to have a chance against Chicago.
Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville tells ProHockeyTalk.com that he expects every game against the Wild to be close.
ESPN.com’s NHL analysts predict the Blackhawks will win the best-of-seven series in five games.
Game one of the series can be watched on NBC Sports Network and FOX Sports North.
