When the Chicago Blackhawks lost Game 3 to the Minnesota Wild, they called it a “wake up call.”
There was no reason for them to panic. They had claimed the first two contests of the second round cleanly and had just ended a six-game winning streak, so they were still in a good spot. Then Minnesota earned a 4-2 victory in Game 4 on Friday and the feel of this series changed a bit.
It’s now clear that this won’t be a repeat of 2013 when the Blackhawks cruised past Minnesota in the first round. This Wild team is capable of standing up to the defending Stanley Cup champions.
“It’s playoff hockey,” Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews emphasized. “It’s not supposed to be easy. There’s going to be some moments where your stomach drops.”
That’s true, but a string of those moments can and will end the campaign of all but one team and for the first time since the second round started, it truly feels like this is anyone’s series.
The game will start at 9:00 p.m. ET and air on CNBC. You can also stream it online below:
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