Chicago -
Michael Russo, myself and the startribune.com team have loaded the website with photos, videos, blog posts, columns and stories. Here are a few notes you probably don't really need to know heading into Game 1...
-Nino Niederreiter scored two goals, including the game-winner, in Game 7 on Wednesday. He also had an assist, making him, at 21, the fourth-youngest player to record three points in a Game 7. He is the second-youngest to score in OT of a Game 7. (Via Elias and Wild media relations)
-Zach Parise is tied for the NHL lead with 10 points this postseason. That's a career high for his most points in a single series. He set a Wild single-game playoff record with four points in Game 6 against Colorado.
-Parise has scored 25 playoff goals. His dad, J.P., scored 27.
-Mikko Koivu tonight will play in his 24th playoff game, tying him for second-most in Wild history along with Nick Schultz. Marian Gaborik played in 29.
-The Wild is 1-6, including five overtime losses, in the first game of a playoff series. It has lost its last six.
-In the Game 7 victory, the Wild became the first team ever to score four-game tying goals in a GAme 7. (Again via Elias and the Wild.)
-Ryan Suter was on the ice more than any other player during all seven games of the Colorado series.
-Dany Heatley, who began the series as a healthy scratch, wound up leading the team in plus-minus rating at plus-5.
-Charlie Coyle leads the Wild in hits and is tied for the team lead in goals, with three.
-Mikael Granlund has scored points in five straight games.
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I'll be on 1500ESPN from 10-noon on Sunday. We'll provide lots of material and a video to startribune.com after the game, and in the Saturday paper. Thanks for reading.
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