Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Blackhawks know they’re facing a ‘dangerous’ Wild team

Minnesota Wild v Chicago Blackhawks - Game One

CHICAGO, IL - MAY 01: Jonathan Toews #19 of the Chicago Blackhawks and Mikael Granlund #64 of the Minnesota Wild wait for the referee to drop the puck on a face-off in Game One of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2015 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the United Center on May 1, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. The Blackhawks defeated the Wild 4-3. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Getty Images

The Minnesota Wild has met the Chicago Blackhawks three years in a row in the post-season, getting eliminated in each of the previous two occasions.

With Devan Dubnyk enjoying a resurgence in his career since getting traded to Minnesota out of Arizona and a deep lineup that has gained valuable experience in playoff hardship, the Wild has been a force since turning its season around in mid-January, and this team’s chance of finally getting past the Blackhawks in the playoffs has never been this good.

Still, Minnesota trails this second-round series 1-0 after a loss on Friday.

But the Wild’s valiant comeback attempt, which fell just short despite roaring back from a three-goal deficit in the second period, has the Blackhawks on notice.

“They won the game, but they’re probably not feeling too well about the pushback we had. We came here to get one and hopefully we get one,” said Chris Stewart, as per The Minneapolis Star Tribune.

The Wild and Blackhawks meet in Game 2 on Sunday in Chicago.

“We’re looking at a team that’s played as well as anyone over the last 50 games,” Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville told USA Today.

“That’s our challenge. They’re dangerous, they’re fast. They’re quick. They have a lot of weaponry in their attack. They have a mobile defense. We have a dangerous team on the other side and they’re going to get their turns. Every game is going to be on the line.”

Follow @CamTucker_Metro