Chicago Blackhawks vs. Minnesota Wild Predictions, Picks and Preview – 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Western Conference Second Round Game 3 – May 5, 2015

The Chicago Blackhawks mean business, as they took the first two games of their Western Conference Semifinals series against Minnesota at home. But they must go back on the road, where they’ve recently struggled against the Wild. Can Chicago get over its struggles away from home in Game 3? Or will the Wild claw their way back into the series? Read on for a complete look into this heated Western clash.

The Anaheim Ducks also head to the road undefeated. Check out our preview for Game 3 of the Ducks vs. Flames. Things are also heating up at the East. The Rangers and the Capitals meet in an all-important Game 4 at Washington. Check out the complete preview for that game here.
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Chicago Blackhawks vs. Minnesota Wild Game 3 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 – May 5, 8:00 PM ET, Chicago Blackhawks (+120) at Minnesota Wild (-140); total 5.0 – view all NHL lines

Game 4 – May 7, 9:30 PM ET, Chicago Blackhawks at Minnesota Wild

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

Patrick Kane is a game-changer for the Chicago Blackhawks. After missing a quarter of the regular season, the former Conn Smythe winner is having yet another productive postseason as he scored two more goals in their 4-1 Game 2 win on Sunday. Kane is now on a five-game points streak with four goals and three assists and is tied for the team lead with 10 postseason points (five goals, five assists).

[sc:NHL240 ]Kane has been excellent against the Wild. He has six goals and seven assists in his last eight games against Minnesota. But if the Blackhawks are to dominate on the road, they’ll need their other stars to step up big time.

Patrick Sharp and Jonathan Toews combined for four points in the first two games of the series. But they were both point-less in a 3-0 loss at Xcel Energy Center back in February with Devan Dubnyk netminding for the Wild. Chicago has dropped five of its last seven games at Minnesota.

Youngster Teuvo Teravainen has been a pleasant surprise for Chicago. Inserted to replace Kris Versteeg, Teravainen scored the game-winner in Game 1. He also made a nifty play along the boards in Game 2 to assist in Sharp’s third-period goal.

But Chicago can settle for less firepower if Corey Crawford can keep up his excellent run against the Wild. Crawford stopped 30 of 31 shots in Sunday’s win to go 6-2 with a .950 save percentage in his last eight starts against Minnesota.

Banking on these Blackhawks to take home the cup? Create a betting account now and get your bankroll soaring through the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Betting on the Minnesota Wild

The Minnesota Wild have been here before. They’ve gone down 0-2 against Chicago in each of the last two postseasons, only to win Game 3 on both occasions. If the Wild are to get themselves back into the series, then they’ll have to do it through Zach Parise.

Parise leads Minnesota with nine points in the playoffs. He had a goal and an assist in a 4-3 Game 1 loss but was shutout in Game 2. Playing back at Minnesota should help him recover his form. Parise has three goals and one assist in three games on home ice in the playoffs thus far.

Jason Pominville, the Wild’s assists leader in the regular season (36), has also played much better at home this postseason. Of his five playoff points, three have come at Minnesota. Having Pominville on point at home should help him make plays for the likes of Jason Zucker and Mikael Granlund, who both scored in Game 1.

The Wild could also get some added production from Nino Niederreiter and Thomas Vanek. Niederreiter has three goals (second-most among the Wild) in the playoffs thus far, while Vanek has two assists in the series.

Apart from more offense, though, Minnesota will need better goaltending to cut the series deficit. After the first two games against Chicago, goalie Dubnyk has uninspired with a 3.5 GAA and a .892 save percentage in the series. But he did stop all 24 shots to earn a 3-0 shutout win in his lone regular season home game against the Blackhawks.

The Wild have won four of their last six home games against Chicago.

Writer’s Prediction

The Wild (-140) cut the series deficit with a big 4-3 win at home.
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