Blackhawks Look to Take 2-0 Lead Over Wild
The NHL playoffs continue on Sunday when the Minnesota Wild visits the Chicago Blackhawks for Game 2 of their best of seven Western Conference semifinal series. The Blackhawks lead the series 1-0. The current line has Chicago favored at -133 with the over/under goal total on 5.
The Wild will try to record its first ever postseason win at Chicago’s United Center to even the semifinal series at one game apiece. Minnesota dropped to 0-7 in playoff games all-time in Chicago when it lost a 4-3 game in the opener on Friday.
The Wild were behind after just 15 minutes by a 3-0 score, before scoring three straight goals over a span of 8:09 during the second period to rally to a 3-3 tie.
Minnesota has been eliminated in each of the past two seasons during the playoffs by the Blackhawk, but has lost two straight games just twice since mid January after acquiring Devan Dubnyk a finalist for the Vezina Trophy.
While Minnesota is trailing for only the first time during the playoffs this year, Chicago looks to take its second lead of two games. The Blackhawks were up 3-1 in the first round against Nashville before defeating the Predators 4-2.
On Sunday, Minnesota will not have Justin Fontaine. The right winger left Game 1 during the second period with an injury to his lower body.
Fontaine did not score in the game and has only 1 goal and 1 assist in the six games during the postseason for the Wild.
Erick Haula will likely fill in for Fontaine due to prior success he has had against Chicago. Last year, his coach Mike Yeo felt that Haula played well against the Blackhawks during the postseason.
Chicago gave up three goals in only one period for the fifth time during the current postseason. On three of the five occasions, Corey Crawford has been the goaltender. However, in Game 1, the veterans, including Crawford did not get rattled in the second period and were able to come back with the 4-3 win.
Four of the five wins by Chicago this postseason were by one goal, with three of the games ending 4-3.
Minnesota was 1-3 on the power play in Game 1 and is tied with Anaheim with 33.3% success this postseason on the power play.
The home team has won 19 of the past 26 games between the two teams. The OVER has cashed in 9 of the past 15 games between the two teams played in Chicago. The Wild is 2-6 over the past 8 games against Chicago. The Wild is 3-13 over the past 16 games played in Chicago versus the Blackhawks.
