The Chicago Blackhawks take the first step on the long road to the Stanley Cup Tuesday night. The 'Hawks host the Minnesota Wild in Game 1 of their Western Conference quarterfinal series after a dominating regular-season performance.
The Wild handed Chicago a loss this season—a 3-2 shootout decision back on Jan. 30. Minnesota has dropped six of its last 10 games to close the regular season. In terms of the postseason, both squads start on even ground when it comes to records.
Joining what will surely be a full house at the Madhouse on Madison will be all of us folks who couldn't secure tickets. Heading into the series opener, here are some areas to keep an eye on.
The Power Play
The Wild were shorthanded less than any team in the league this season, and the Blackhawks could not log a power-play goal against Minnesota in seven attempts. Though the 'Hawks may not get a lot of opportunities on the power play, the talent advantage in five-on-five hockey is solidly with Chicago.
Still, making Minnesota pay for time spent in the box could make for a shorter series.
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Article written by Jon Fromi
Chicago Blackhawks: What to Watch for in Game 1 vs. Minnesota Wild
April 30th, 2013 by Jon Fromi Leave a reply »
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