CHICAGO – It looked like a formation out of a video game, with the puck carrier hustling up ice as two Wild players skated behind — their setup in the shape of a triangle.
But the trailers weren't supporting the rush.
They were chasing it.
And defensemen Jonas Brodin and Ryan Suter never did catch Blackhawks winger Patrick Kane, as he unleashed a wrist shot by goalie Alex Stalock before pressure arrived to seal the eventual clinching goal in a 4-1 triumph over the Wild on Sunday in front of 21,813 at United Center — a game that felt as lopsided as that goal and gave the Blackhawks a two-point cushion over the Wild in the standings.
"He's a great player, and you can't give a great player too much opportunity or they're going to put it in the net," coach Bruce Boudreau said.
That slim margin for error should have been fresh in the minds of the Wild's players, as they were tripped up 3-2 by the Oilers on Saturday at home. But mistakes piled up, and the Wild was unable to slow down the Blackhawks and Kane — who was responsible for two goals.
His first tally came 10 minutes, 56 seconds into the first period; the Blackhawks broke into the Wild's end for a 4-on-3 rush with center Nick Schmaltz setting Kane up for a one-timer from inside the right faceoff circle.
The Blackhawks only increased their pressure in the second, but three penalties by the Wild helped fuel Chicago; although the Blackhawks went scoreless in all six of their power plays, they registered 14 shots with the man advantage — this after the Oilers used a similar formula a day earlier to drain the Wild on six power plays. The Wild, meanwhile, went 0-for-2.