[A] WCQF Game One: Chicago Blackhawks vs. Minnesota Wild

[Chief Walking Stick]

You've probably heard, or read, that the Chicago Blackhawks are expected to smoke the Minnesota Wild in this series. That may or may not be true, but in the opening game of a series the Blackhawks are 3-6 since the 2008-2009 season, that's not exactly encouraging for tonights game in particular. With that in mind, Chicago has not faced the eighth seed at all over the last four seasons so they could improve upon that record tonight.

WHO'S IN, WHO'S OUT — <strong class='bbc'>Dave Bolland[/b] and <strong class='bbc'>Ray Emery[/b] will not dress for the Blackhawks tonight, instead <strong class='bbc'>Henrik Karlsson[/b] will warm the bench as the back-up goaltender to <strong class='bbc'>Corey Crawford[/b]. <strong class='bbc'>Jason Pominville[/b] is out for the Minnesota Wild due to a head injury, so <strong class='bbc'>Zenon Konopka[/b] will take his place.

ENEMY BREAKDOWN — Nine players on the Minnesota Wild will be making their playoff debut. They beat the Colorado Avalanche (3-1) their last game of the season and have a 2-3-0 record in the last five games. They are 18-4-1 when they score first, and 8-15-2 when their opponents score first.

GOALTENDING DUEL —
<div style="float:left; padding:10px;"><span rel='lightbox'><span rel='lightbox'>

</span></span></div><div style="float:left; padding:10px;"><span style='font-size: 18px'><strong class='bbc'>Corey Crawford[/b] #50</span>
<span style='font-size: 14px'>Height: 6-2 </span>
<span style='font-size: 14px'>Weight: 208</span>
Career vs. Wild:<ul class='bbc'>[*]Games Played: 7[*]Record: 3-1-2[*]Shutouts: 0[*]Goals Against Average: 2.01[*]Save Percentage: 0.919</div>[/list]<div style="float:left; padding:10px;"><span rel='lightbox'><span rel='lightbox'>

</span></span></div><div style="float:left; padding:10px;"><span style='font-size: 18px'><strong class='bbc'>Niklas Backstrom[/b] #32 </span>
<span style='font-size: 14px'>Height: 5-11
Weight: 194</span>
Career vs. Blackhawks:<ul class='bbc'>[*]Games Played: 15[*]Record: 5-8-1[*]Shutouts: 1[*]Goals Against Average: 2.65[*]Save Percentage: 0.919</div>[/list]LEADERS — For the Blackhawks,<strong class='bbc'> Marian Hossa[/b] has 20 points (10G, 10A) in 22 career games against the Wild. <strong class='bbc'>Jonathan Toews[/b] compiled 17 points (6G, 11A) in 18 career games. On defense, <strong class='bbc'>Duncan Keith[/b] produced 15 points (5G, 10A) in 29 career games.

For the Wild,<strong class='bbc'> Ryan Suter[/b] leads the team with 26 points (4G, 22A) in 47 career games versus Chicago (his most against any team). Mikko Koivu has 22 points (4G, 18A) in 29 career games vs. the Blackhawks. Matt Cullen also produced 22 points (10G, 12A) vs. Chicago in 36 career games.

KEYS TO VICTORY — I am not one of those people that thinks <strong class='bbc'>Corey Crawford[/b] will be the achilles heel of this team, but with that said he will have to beat out a very solid goaltender in <strong class='bbc'>Niklas Backstrom[/b]. I don't think that the Blackhawks need to get the powerplay rolling to win this series, but if they do catch fire then they will slaughter the Wild. Joel Quenneville dominated Mike Yeo in line matches during the season series, so he will need to continue to get the right guys out there at the right times. Experience will play a key factor in this game, and series. I mentioned in the past that the Blackhawks have had trouble in opening round games since 2008-2009 (3-6 record), but this probably won't be one of them.

The biggest key? Score first, the Wild suck when they are trailing.

MEDIA NOTES —
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Click here to view the article

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

RESERVED</p>


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WOOOOO PLAYOFFS!!!</p>

 

[JOVE23]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxP4wtJD5n0</p>


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I hope this is a catalyst to restart the Blackhawks-Minnesota rivalry</p>

 

[roshinaya]

Last time the Hawks won the PT they lost in the first round against Minnesota.

 

[R K]

I'm guessing Wed/Friday.

Hawks should walk away with this series.

 

[Tater]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="roshinaya" data-cid="192947" data-time="1367133155">
<div>


Last time the Hawks won the PT they lost in the first round against Minnesota.</p>
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[the canadian dream]

I never thought it would be the Wild but pretty happy it is although the Wings would have been really fun and who I wanted. They def aren't going to have problems against the Wild. 5-6 game series (could even be a sweep but I don't really predict sweeps as I always give the opposition a little respect..wouldn't shock me seeing a sweep though). Guess I take back what I said about Backstrom being able to win a series these playoffs by himself. That's not going to happen.</p>

 

[roshinaya]

Not saying something that happened in the early 90s has any bearing on what happens this time, just a tidbit of trivia. Hawks ought to handle the Wild, 5-6 games.

 

[EspoForever]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="The Canadian Dreamalchuk" data-cid="192950" data-time="1367135261">


I never thought it would be the Wild but pretty happy it is although the Wings would have been really fun and who I wanted. They def aren't going to have problems against the Wild. 5-6 game series (could even be a sweep but I don't really predict sweeps as I always give the opposition a little respect..wouldn't shock me seeing a sweep though). Guess I take back what I said about Backstrom being able to win a series these playoffs by himself. That's not going to happen.</p></blockquote>

We only out-scored the Wild 8-6 in head-to-head games this year. Anything can happen, though I do agree with you that we SHOULD prevail in 5 or 6.

 

[EspoForever]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="R K" data-cid="192948" data-time="1367134030">


I'm guessing Wed/Friday.Hawks should walk away with this series.</p></blockquote>Probably correct because the Bulls have a game 6 (if necessary) scheduled for Thursday.


Hope it goes Wed / Fri because I have tickets to game B!


Go Hox!


EDIT:


Damn I hope this is wrong, but StubHub is showing the games being Tues and Weds in Chicago the Fri and Sun in Minnie. I was hoping my game 2 tix would be Friday. I had wondered if they would compress the playoffs to make up for being so far behind, but they are still saying the announcements won't be until 11PM eastern on NHL network. Stub Hub shows the St. Louis / LA series playing Tuesday and then games 2 AND 3 are both listed Weds! So maybe they are not so dependable.

 

[CLWolf81]

It will likely be Wednesday for Game 1 due to the possibility of a Bulls game on Thursday, and then Friday for Game 2....

But yeah Hawks in 5....

 

[JOVE23]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="roshinaya" data-cid="192947" data-time="1367133155">
<div>


Last time the Hawks won the PT they lost in the first round against Minnesota.</p>
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</blockquote>


Because they took 900,000 penalties a game and couldn't beat Jon Casey. </p>


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But this is kinda cool</p>


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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMzAQrFOutI</p>

 

[R K]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="EspoForever" data-cid="192957" data-time="1367154414">

Probably correct because the Bulls have a game 6 (if necessary) scheduled for Thursday.

Hope it goes Wed / Fri because I have tickets to game B!

Go Hox!

EDIT:

Damn I hope this is wrong, but StubHub is showing the games being Tues and Weds in Chicago the Fri and Sun in Minnie. I was hoping my game 2 tix would be Friday. I had wondered if they would compress the playoffs to make up for being so far behind, but they are still saying the announcements won't be until 11PM eastern on NHL network. Stub Hub shows the St. Louis / LA series playing Tuesday and then games 2 AND 3 are both listed Weds! So maybe they are not so dependable.</p></blockquote>
I can't see them having back to back.

 

[Tater]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="JOVE23" data-cid="192980" data-time="1367169246">
<div>


Because they took 900,000 penalties a game and couldn't beat Jon Casey. </p>


 </p>


But this is kinda cool</p>


 </p>


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMzAQrFOutI</p>
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</blockquote>


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I just watched the whole thing on T.V., very cool.</p>

 

[EspoForever]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="R K" data-cid="192982" data-time="1367174478">

I can't see them having back to back.</p></blockquote>

That's what I thought but wondered if they were going to compress because of the season running a couple weeks later than normal. I guess we'll find out for sure tonite at 11 EDT / 10 CDT

 

[Variable]

Remember, it's the NHL. Damn well could be back to back.

 

[EspoForever]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Variable" data-cid="192986" data-time="1367183401">

Remember, it's the NHL. Damn well could be back to back.</p></blockquote>


Yeah...for years it was always 4 games in 5 nights to begin round 1, 4 series started one day and the other 4 started 1 day later. That 2nd night of playoffs and the 4th night had 8 playoff games on in one day...those were great days to be a hockey fan.

 

[EspoForever]

Times Eastern...from NHL.com


2013 WESTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS

SERIES E TIME (ET) #1 VS. #8 NETWORKS

TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2013 8 P.M. MINNESOTA AT CHICAGO NBCSN, CBC

FRIDAY, MAY 3, 2013 9:30 P.M. MINNESOTA AT CHICAGO NBCSN, CBC

SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2013 3 P.M. CHICAGO AT MINNESOTA NBC, CBC

TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013 9:30 P.M. CHICAGO AT MINNESOTA NBCSN, CBC

*THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2013 TBD MINNESOTA AT CHICAGO CBC

*SATURDAY, MAY 11, 2013 TBD CHICAGO AT MINNESOTA CBC

*SUNDAY, MAY 12, 2013 TBD MINNESOTA AT CHICAGO CBC

 

[jaxhawksfan]

And there you have it.  Let's Go Hawks!</p>

 

[Tater]

Why the 8:30 start on Friday?</p>