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Blackhawks continue to foil Parise, Suter and Koivu in the playoffs

Mike Yeo

Minnesota Wild head coach Mike Yeo, top, reacts as he looks up a score board during the third period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey second-round playoff series against the Chicago Blackhawks in Chicago, Sunday, May 4, 2014. The Blackhawks won 4-1. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

AP

For all the talk about Sidney Crosby and Rick Nash chasing that first playoff goal, the most worrisome slump might revolve around the Minnesota Wild’s big names being unable to solve the Chicago Blackhawks. Simply put, Zach Parise, Mikko Koivu and Ryan Suter have had an awful time against the ‘Hawks in seven playoff games over two postseason series.

The good news is that they still have some time to figure things out, but so far, they seem downright baffled. Sunday’s 4-1 Game 2 loss may represent a new low for the Minnesota trio, too; they failed to score a point and combined for a -8 rating.

Parise, 29, is the only one of the three to even score a point against Chicago over those seven games. He generated an assist in Game 1 and scored one goal in Minnesota’s 4-1 series loss to Chicago in 2013.

MORE: Wild coach says his team is just a “play or two away.”

In case you’re curious, here’s a breakdown of how all three have fared in the two series against Chicago, with the obvious note being that they have plenty of time to redeem themselves as things shift to Minnesota:

Parise in 2013-14: one assist, -3 rating, nine shots on goal in two games against Chicago; In seven games against Colorado, Parise had a point in every game (three goals, eight assists for 11 points in that series).
Parise in 2012-13: one goal, -7 rating, 17 SOG in five games against Chicago.

Koivu in 2013-14: zero points, -3 rating, five SOG; Koivu had six points (one goal, five assists) against Colorado.
Koivu in 2012-13: zero points, -6 rating, 11 SOG in five GP

Suter in 2013-14: zero points, -5 rating, four SOG ... 27:25 TOI in Game 2 and only 25:22 TOI in Game 1; Suter had four points in Minnesota’s series against Colorado and generally logged his usual heavy minutes
Suter in 2012-13: zero points, -5 rating, five SOG in five GP
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It’s really important to note that these lousy-looking numbers came in a very small sample size with five against the Presidents’ Trophy and Stanley Cup-winning team from last season and two against a championship contender this season. If anything, Chicago deserves as much credit as Minnesota’s biggest names inspire concern.

Still, with all of those caveats aside, it’s clear that things aren’t going well for Minnesota’s leaders (especially Koivu and Suter, as Parise’s shot totals at least imply that he could be more productive with better bounces).

The question is: what needs to be done to get them back on track? Will a change of scenery do the trick? Should head coach Mike Yeo consider shifting lines to try to avoid the likes of Duncan Keith, Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa or is it just a matter of the Wild’s big names digging deep?

That’s up to debate, but if Minnesota doesn’t find an answer soon, it could be another short series.

Follow James O’Brien @cyclelikesedins