Minnesota Wild coach Mike Yeo isn’t kidding himself.
He fully expects the Chicago Blackhawks to give a sprited response in Game 4 of the Western Conference playoff series with the Wild. That, after getting hit hard by Minnesota in a physical 2-1 overtime loss Sunday at Xcel Energy Center.
In a news conference Monday, Yeo told reporters “tomorrow is a real test.”
“Part of challenge for us next game will be to brace against their push-back” Yeo said. “We know they’re going to come hard.”
Chicago head coach Joel Quenneville told his team to bring more “intensity” and “passion” to Game 4.
“Coming in on the road, the building is going to be loud; it’s going to be a tough place to come into,” Quenneville tells ESPN Chicago. “We want to make sure we have more urgency to our game, more directness, the passion that comes with playoff hockey.”
Chip Scoggins of the Star Tribune was inside the Blackhawks locker room Monday and noted how “ticked” off the players seemed.
Game 4 is Tuesday night in St. Paul, with Chicago holding a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.
