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A casual fan, perusing the highlights and noting the 5-2 box score, might have assumed that Chicago's victory over Minnesota was a rout.
While it is true that the Wild should be worried after this contest, the Blackhawks too have much to consider.
Chicago should be the much better team, judging by the accomplishments of its core group, the regular-season standings, and both advanced and more basic metrics. But on Friday, the Blackhawks blew a 2-0 lead and were dominated by the Wild for long stretches of the game.
For Minnesota, the result was even scarier. Chicago was a long way from being at its best and still left the rink on the right side of that 5-2 score.
Yeo: We're not happy with our game tonight. I felt we didn't have everybody at the level we needed to be at, so we'll rectify that...- Michael Russo (@Russostrib) May 3, 2014
Yeo: Handful of guys that were below average at best.- Michael Russo (@Russostrib) May 3, 2014
Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
Of particular note was the power-versus-power matchup. Chicago's top line (Jonathan , Marian Hossa and Bryan ) spent roughly 70 percent of its even-strength ice time against Minnesota's top trio (Zach , Jason and Mikael ). The Blackhawks were 12-3 with on the ice, a rarity for the elite centre.
The mix of pros and cons left at least one Wild blogger, Emilie of Hockey Wilderness, optimistic for the future of the series:
The things to take away from tonight's game is that the Wild did a lot of good things. Some things need to be better. The defense needs to be better, and so does the goaltending. But these are things that those of us who have been around all season know can and will be fixed for the next game. The Wild have one of the best defensive corps in the league. The team will do some work, watch some more film, and come back adjusted for game 2 on Sunday.
On the other side of the chasm between victory and defeat, Chicago coach Joel Quenneville was in no mood postgame to gloat about the result. Instead, he was blunt in his assessment of the contest and in the need for his club to do better:
Joel Quenneville: "we were fortunate (to win). It's a game that certainly gets your attention."- Anthony LaPanta (@AnthonyLaPanta) May 3, 2014
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