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Wild coach expects strong work from Bryzgalov in Game 2

Ilya Bryzgalov

Minnesota Wild goalie Ilya Bryzgalov, right, reacts as he looks down after Chicago Blackhawks’ Patrick Kane scored a goal during the third period in Game 1 of an NHL hockey second-round playoff series in Chicago, Friday, May 2, 2014. The Blackhawks won 5-2. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

AP

Whether the Minnesota Wild like it or not, they’ll need to stick with Ilya Bryzgalov in net against the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 2 on Sunday. If nothing else, head coach Mike Yeo is saying all the right things about Breezy, at least to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune’s Michael Russo.

Yeo told Russo that he has a “good feeling” that the 33-year-old netminder will “play well” in Game 2.

As PHT noted on Friday, injuries continue to hinder the Wild in net. Yeo backed up yesterday’s update that Darcy Kuemper is not with the team just yet as he continues to struggle with an injury suffered during Game 7 of the Wild’s first-round series against the Colorado Avalanche.

While Yeo is putting on a brave face, Russo notes that Bryzgalov has been struggling lately. After a strong finish to the regular season (5-1-1 with two shutouts), Bryzgalov has struggled in the postseason. His lone playoff win in 2014 came after playing 13:15 in Game 7 following Kuemper’s injury.

Despite besting Bryzgalov and the Wild 5-2 in Game 1, more than a few Blackhawks players noted that they weren’t totally happy with their efforts in that victory (Johnny Oduya told Russo that they “got away with one”), so things could be even more challenging for the Russian goalie.

Follow James O’Brien @cyclelikesedins