Even after losing Game 2 against St. Louis on Saturday, the Wild holds a position of playoff control against the Blues — a strange position for this franchise in the playoffs and for its fans (and Minnesota fans in general).
Every series the Wild managed to win in the past has come with an air of desperation. Even in the only other series in franchise history in which the Wild won Game 1 — 2003 against Colorado — things took a quick downward turn when Colorado won Games 2, 3 and 4.
Minnesota needed to rally from a 3-1 deficit in that series; it needed to do the same to win the following series against Vancouver. Last year, of course, the Wild trailed Colorado 3-2 before winning the final two games.
Three series victories, all finalized in Game 7s on the road.
So this business of being tied 1-1 after a road split … this is new. This is a best-of-5 series now, with three games in Minnesota. The Wild doesn't have to win another road game, and it can still win the series.
The questions now become: Can the Wild handle it, and can you — dear fans — handle this?
It is different to play when you are the one with something to lose, and it is different to watch when there are expectations vs. hopes.
The Wild's best work in the playoffs last year and during the regular season this year came during desperation. I'll be curious to see how the team reacts in Game 3, and I'll be similarly curious to see the tenor of fans in the stands and on social media.
