The Chicago Blackhawks are inching closer and closer to their third straight Western Conference Finals appearance. The Blackhawks held on to a narrow 1-0 win in Game 3 to take a commanding 3-0 series lead. If they want plenty of rest heading into a possible conference finals berth, then they’ll need to seal the deal against the pesky Minnesota Wild on the road.
Can the Wild stay alive at least for one more game? Read on for everything you need to know heading into this thrilling Western clash.
The Anaheim Ducks aren’t as fortunate to be 3-0 up against Calgary after squandering a lead late in Game 3. Check out our complete preview of the Ducks vs. Flames Game 4.
[sc:NHLArticles ]Chicago Blackhawks vs. Minnesota Wild Game 4 Preview
Series Scores and Schedule
Game 1 – Minnesota Wild 3 at Chicago Blackhawks 4
Game 2 – Minnesota Wild 1 at Chicago Blackhawks 4
Game 3 – Chicago Blackhawks 1 at Minnesota Wild 0
Game 4 – May 7, 9:30 PM ET, Chicago Blackhawks at Minnesota Wild – view all NHL lines
Game 5* – Time and Date TBD, Minnesota Wild at Chicago Blackhawks
Game 6* – Time and Date TBD, Chicago Blackhawks at Minnesota Wild
Game 7* – Time and Date TBD, Minnesota Wild at Chicago Blackhawks
*If necessary
Betting on the Chicago Blackhawks
There’s no slowing down Patrick Kane. He has six goals and five assists in nine playoff games thus far, a sure sign that the broken collarbone that kept him out of the last quarter of the regular season is far behind him. Kane’s sixth goal was the all-important lone goal in Chicago’s 1-0 Game 3 win. Only Tampa Bay’s Tyler Johnson has more goals than Kane this postseason.
[sc:NHL240 ]The Chicago star now has nine goals and six assists in 14 playoff games against the Wild over the past three years. The game-winning goal came in an excellent sequence in the first period. Patrick Sharp passed the puck down the middle to Andrew Shaw, who played it just enough for Kane to net the goal from the left wing.
Kane is just one part of a stacked frontline for Chicago, though. Jonathan Toews and Sharp are a couple of steps behind with four goals and five assists each in the playoffs. Marian Hossa has thrived as a playmaker on the wings with seven assists.
They also have a game-changer on the blue line in Duncan Keith. He leads the Blackhawks with eight assists and a plus/minus of eight this postseason.
Netting plenty of goals is impressive and all, but Chicago wouldn’t be in this position if not for the stellar play of Corey Crawford between the pipes. He continued his dominance of the Wild, stopping all 30 shots fired his way in Game 3. Crawford now has a .957 save percentage in this series to pace Chicago to a commanding 3-0 lead.
The Blackhawks have won seven of Crawford’s last nine starts against Minnesota.
Betting on the Minnesota Wild
Devan Dubnyk was solid back in his own end. He saved 21 of 22 shots against him in Game 3, including a huge pad save on Chicago’s Toews late in the first period. But the lack of support from the blue line came back to haunt the Wild. Minnesota finished with just 10 blocked shots in the game. Chicago had 21 blocks to shutout the Wild.
If the Wild are to give Dubnyk some support, then they’ll have to do a much better job covering their opponents. Only defenseman Ryan Sutter had multiple blocks (five) in the game.
What’s even more concerning is the Wild’s inability to score. They outshot the Blackhawks for the second time in the series, but are yet to record a win. Jason Pominville and Thomas Vanek were misfiring throughout Game 3. Pominville is yet to tally a point in this series, while Vanek had two assists in Game 1. Mikael Granlund had a prime opportunity to score on a breakaway but was robbed by Crawford.
Zach Parise, Minnesota’s go-to scorer in the regular season (33 goals), was shutout for the second straight game after finishing with one goal and one assist in Game 1. He hasn’t been too productive in 14 career playoff appearances against Chicago. Parise has seven points (three goals and four assists) in those appearances and a plus/minus of -11.
But expect Parise to come up big time in this do-or-die Game 4. He had three points (a goal and two assists) in two home games against the Blackhawks in last year’s conference semifinals.
What gave the Wild so much trouble is their inability to take care of the puck. They incorporated risky cross-ice passes rather than carry the puck into the zone, many of which were chipped away by Chicago. The Wild finished with seven giveaways. It was the first time they had more giveaways than the Blackhawks in the series. The Wild matched Chicago with 10 giveaways in Game 2 and 12 in Game 1. If the Wild can remain patient and pick their shots, then they should be able to take more quality shots while limiting Chicago’s chances.
The Wild are 5-3 in their last eight home games against Chicago.
Writer’s Prediction
The Wild force Game 5. There’s plenty more thrills to be had in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Create a betting account now and earn plenty from exciting playoff hockey.
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