May 5, 2013; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Chicago Blackhawks forward Bryan Bickell (29) shoots on Minnesota Wild goalie Josh Harding (37) during the third period in game three of the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

What’s a good playoff series without a little drama? Well, it isn’t Minnesota’s Round One series with the Chicago Blackhawks, that’s for sure. According to Star Tribune beat writer Michael Russo, Minnesota could be faced with a dilemma in goal for tonight’s must-win game against the best team in the National Hockey League.

As Wild fans know, Josh Harding did not play in the second or third periods of Minnesota’s 3-0 Game Four loss on home ice after being run into by Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews. Rookie Darcy Kuemper was forced into his first taste of NHL playoff action and normal Minnesota Wild No. 1 netminder Niklas Backstrom suited up to back him up on the bench. Backstrom, who was originally slated to start Game One, endured an injury of his own in warm-ups just minutes before Minnesota was to play their first playoff game in five years. Harding, who has struggled this season with MS, stepped in and didn’t miss a beat until being injured in Game Four.

With their backs against the wall, both Harding and Backstrom appeared to struggle in today’s pregame skate. At that point, it was beginning to look like anyone of Minnesota’s three goalies could get the start. Wild Head Coach Mike Yeo had a good long talk with both Harding and Backstrom, and their coach Bob Mason, before finally coming to a decision—Harding will start and Kuemper will back him up.

“We don’t know how he feels, but you have to trust him, and he says that he is good to go and there was absolutely no doubt about it, so that’s what we were looking for,” Yeo said when asked about Harding. “You don’t know what we were talking about,” he added with a smile. “I think we might have been talking about what we were having for lunch today.”

“This is what we’ve been dealt,” he then said, getting back to business. “But we were able to figure it out and now we should push all that stuff behind us. Bottom line is we’ve got 20 guys going into the game. No excuses whatsoever on our part. You’re in the lineup, you’re there for a reason, and we’ve got a group that is more than capable of winning this hockey game tonight.”

“It’s too bad you have to deal with [the goaltending situation],” said Wild defenseman Ryan Suter. “There’s so many distractions already. For us, we know whoever’s in net, we have to play hard and play our best if we want to win this game tonight. That’s been our attitude all year. It’s just someone different in net. Obviously it’s not Backy, who’s been there all year. Whoever it is, we have to go out and defend well and play in the offensive zone.”

The Minnesota Wild franchise does have a history of winning must-win games, going 7-3, including coming back from 3-1 deficits and beating both the Colorado Avalanche and Vancouver Canucks in their miracle run to the 2003 Western Conference Finals. They’ll need everything they can get from their goaltending to ensure another comeback.

“If we can win this game, obviously we’d still be behind, some of the pressure would shift,” said Yeo. “We have to have a good focus of how to make that happen. Game 3, we knew without a doubt we had to win that game, and we played our best game of the series. Game 48, we knew we had to win that hockey game and we were able to go out and perform. Hopefully we can draw upon that.”

Wild fans are counting on it, even if it just means one more electrifying playoff game at the Xcel Energy Center.

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May 7, 2013; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Minnesota Wild forward Jason Zucker (16) protects the puck from Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Johnny Oduya (27) during the first period in game four of the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

The Minnesota Wild face the Chicago Blackhawks in Game Five of the Stanley Cup Quarterfinals tonight at the United Center starting at (:30 Eastern and 8:30 pm Central time.  For the Wild this is it, win or go home for the summer.  Chicago is back home where they have lost only three times in regulation this season.  The Blackhawks lead this opening round series of the Stanley Cup Playoffs 3 games to 1 after a 3-0 shutout win Tuesday in St. Paul.  The Wild looked great in their win on Sunday but failed to carry that energy and physical play into game 4 when they tried to skate with the Blackhawks.  Minnesota attempted 68 shots in game 4 with just 25 making it past the ‘Hawks defenders to goal tender Corey Crawford.  Ah, goal tending.  That’s a rather tender subject with the Wild.  Who the starting goalie will be tonight is up in the air according to Wild Head Coach Mike Yeo who said, “We like to keep the other team guessing. We’re not only not going to tell them who our starting goalie is, we’re not going to tell them who our backup goalie is. We’re going to keep them in the dark.”  That’s coach speak for we’re going to start whichever goalie is able to play.  Backstrom is said to be close to returning and he did dress and backup Darcy Kuemper after Josh Harding was injured in the 1st period of game 4.  Harding had started all four playoff games after Backstrom was injured in warm ups for game 1 and played exceptionally well.  Kuemper allowed a soft goal on the first shot he faced Tuesday night, after he entered the game at the start of the 2nd period. He settled down after that and played well. Talk about a tough situation for the rookie goal tender to be thrown into!  Kuemper did say after the game that he knows as a back up his job is to be ready at a moments notice.  Good to say but a lot tougher to do.  Hopefully we’ll see the return of Backstrom tonight.

The Wild however have another issue to address, that being scoring.  In 4 games the Wild have scored a grand total of 6 goals.  Half of that total came in their game 3 victory, leaving a goal a game average over the others.  That won’t get the job done against the Blackhawks folks.  Minnesota has not lacked in scoring chances either, especially on the power play.  In 15 man advantage situations over 4 games the Wild have scored 0, that’s ZERO goals, 0.0% efficiency with the extra skater.  Is they could just score at their season average of 17.9 % that would be 2-3 extra goals.  Last game alone the Blackhawks handed the Wild 6 power play opportunities.  When you hear Coach Yeo talk about missed chances that’s what he’s talking about.  Bottom line Minnesota is going to have to score and defend.  So far in the series the defense has been good.  With the exception of game 2 when Chicago found the back of the net 5 times.  Over the other three games the Blackhawks have averaged 2.33 goals a game.  The Wild are due and this would be a great time to break out of a scoring slump.  Captain Mikko Koivu and linemates Zach Parise and Charlie Coyle need a big game.  Koivu has been held scoreless and pointless thus far with a -8 rating.  Time for the Captain to step up and lead by example.  No Wild player has scored more than a single goal so far and only 5 have multiple points led by Matt Cullen‘s 3 assists.  So far the Cullen, Setoguchi and Zucker line has been the most productive with 2 goals and 4 helpers.  Pierre-Marc Bouchard has a pair of assists and Cal Clutterbuck has a single goal and assist.  That’s the big scorers for Minnesota.  Contrast that with the Blackhawks  Patrick Sharp‘s 4 goals and 1 assist, Patrick Kane‘s 5 helpers, Bryan Bickell‘s 3 goals along with Hossa, Keith and Shaw with 3 points apiece.

Minnesota needs to go back to what worked in game 3.  Hit them, dump the puck in, hit them on the forecheck and get a shot on Crawford.  An aggressive forecheck with an equally aggressive snarling attitude is what the Wild need to bring to the rink tomorrow.  Knock the ‘Hawks on their butt and take the game.  This is not the time for fancy plays, dangling in and out of defenders and picking a corner.  This is the time to get mean, crash the net and score ugly, greasy goals.  Take Chicago out of their comfort zone, shut their fans up and TAKE THE WIN.  Nothing more than a complete team effort will do.  Lose this one and we’ve got all summer to hear about what might have been, what could have been and what should have been.  The Wild have been here before. As an organization the Wild are 7-3 all time in elimination games.  This is time to dig up the spirit and intensity of ’03.  The Avalanche were supposed to win, the Canucks were supposed to win, however a TEAM of Wild players TOOK THE WINS.  They might not have gone all the way, but they went a heck of a lot farther than anyone, except that team, thought they could.  Tonight will end with the Minnesota Wild leaving the United Center with a snarl or a whimper.  The difference is up to them. The Wild have BEATEN the Blackhawks in the regular season, they have BEATEN the Blackhawks in this playoff series.  The Wild players know they can beat them, they have the talent, the offense, the defense, the goal tending, and the coaching.  It’s time to look around the locker room and know that you, with your team mates can get the job done.  If each piece does his part tonight there will be two charter planes headed back to St. Paul for game six.

Check back throughout the day here on GonePuckWid.com for any updates as we head toward game time. You can also keep updated on Twitter, follow us at @DrainScott or @FSGonePuckWild and on Facebook at Gone Puck Wild.  Puck drop is slated for 8:30 pm (CST) Minnesota time.  Once again it’s a later start so NBC Sports Network can carry the Penguins/Islanders matchup.  Where available the game will be televised on Fox Sports North (FSN) and nationally on NBC SN.  After the action I’ll be back with a full recap, reaction and, analysis.  Until then this is Scott Drain shouting, “LET’S GO WILD!!”