Wild vs. Chicago • 8:30 p.m. • Xcel Energy Center • NBCSN, 100.3-FM
Preview: The Wild, which has scored one goal in the past 7 ½ periods and has no points from a forward in that span, looks to avoid being swept from the playoffs for the second time in history (2003 conference finals to Anaheim). This is the third time the Wild has trailed 3-0 (it forced a Game 5 in 2007 to Anaheim). The Blackhawks, one victory shy of their fifth Western Conference finals in seven years, have held a 3-0 lead once in the Jonathan Toews-Patrick Kane era, finishing off San Jose in a sweep in 2010. The Blackhawks are 11-3 against the Wild in the past three postseasons.
Players to watch: Blackhawks RW Patrick Kane has a four-game goal streak and six-game point streak. He has scored four goals this series. He leads the Blackhawks and ranks third in the NHL with 11 points in nine games. He has 43 goals and 102 points in 102 playoff games. Of his seven playoff goals against the Wild, four have been game-winners. Blackhawks G Corey Crawford is 11-3 in 14 career postseason games against the Wild with a 1.60 goals-against average and .942 save percentage. Wild LW Zach Parise leads with four goals, five assists and nine points. F Thomas Vanek has no goals in nine playoff games.
Numbers: This is the 181st time a team has trailed 3-0 in a playoff series. Only four times has a team come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a series; 111 of the previous series have ended in a sweep. Only nine times has a team rallied to get to Game 7 when down 3-0. … After going 25-0-0 when leading after two periods during the regular season, the Blackhawks are 4-0 in the playoffs.
Injuries: Wild RW Justin Fontaine (groin) and RW Chris Stewart (arm) are day-to-day. D Keith Ballard (concussion) is out. Blackhawks RW Kris Versteeg (lower body) is day-to-day.
MICHAEL RUSSO
