Apr 30, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Minnesota Wild right wing Cal Clutterbuck (22) is congratulated by his teammates for scoring a goal against the Chicago Blackhawks during the first period in game one of the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports

Chicago – It’s Thursday, which means today is do-or-die for the Minnesota Wild as they prepare for Game Five of their Round One matchup with the Western Conference-best Chicago Blackhawks. Minnesota will need to leave it all on the ice to come away with a victory in the United Center. In order for them to win, they’ll need their three “C’s” to succeed.

Cal Clutterbuck – The man who began the postseason scoring for Minnesota will need to keep up the good work. Clutterbuck isn’t afraid to throw his weight around and has just been a punishing presence game in and game out in this series. In four games, the man with the best name in hockey has notched a goal and an assist for two points, a plus-1 rating, two penalty minutes and nine shots. Minnesota plays best when they play an aggressively physical style of play, and that means Clutterbuck is going to have to play like he’s never played before for Minnesota to pull out a victory tonight.

Charlie Coyle – Devin Setoguchi and San Jose’s 2011 1^st round pick were the big ticket items in the eyes of Wild fans in the Brent Burns trade. However, Wild GM Chuck Fletcher made it quite clear that the trade didn’t get done without Charlie Coyle thrown in, as well. This season, Wild fans have received a taste of just how good this particular “throw-in” might be. In fact, he could quite possibly be the long-term solution on top line right wing for Minnesota. In four playoff games, the hulking rookie has notched two assists, including a beauty to Parise in the Wild’s Game Three win in Minnesota. He’s also chipped in two penalty minutes, a negative-3 rating and eight shots on goal.

While his plus-minus rating could certainly use improvement, Coyle has shown flashes of brilliance in his first NHL postseason run. The beautiful thing about Coyle is the way he uses his body to separate opposing players from the puck. The guy also can’t be knocked off the puck to save an opposing defenseman’s life. His natural scoring instincts have yet to kick into full gear in this series but, when they do, look out. Minnesota’s large 6’2” 200+ pound winger plays a game very reminiscent of Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews with a touch of former 50-goal scorer Dany Heatley.

Matt Cullen – Ah, Cully—the seasoned vet that has experienced the very pinnacle of professional hockey. At 36, Cullen finds himself not only as Minnesota’s current ranking old-timer, but also the team’s leading playoff scorer this postseason. In four games, Cullen has three assists, a plus-1 rating, five shots and a faceoff win percentage of 60.3%. Playing on a line with young goal scorer Devin Setoguchi and rookie speedster Jason Zucker, Cullen’s line has been too much for Chicago’s strong defense to handle. Nearly every shift by this Minnesota Wild second line has resulted in extended periods of offensive zone domination, and/or severe migraines for the likes of Brent Seabrook, Duncan Keith, Johnny Oduya and former Wild 1^st rounder Nick Leddy. This line is going to need to continue their success against the Blackhawks if the Wild are going to stand any chance of beating Chicago tonight.

Bottom-line, it’s been a very fun series to watch. There’s no shame in losing to the best team in the NHL, and nearly every game has been decided by missed opportunities. However, this has been very valuable, much-needed experience for the rookies and youngsters and it will only make them hungry for more. No matter how this series turns out, you can bet it’ll be a fight to the end. Why? Because the game’s in our blood and our blood’s in the game—it’s as simple as that.

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March 20, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Minnesota Wild right wing Cal Clutterbuck (22) before the game against the Detroit Red Wings at the Joe Louis Arena. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

For the first time since 2008, the Minnesota Wild have made the playoffs. You know what that means—it’s time for the playoff beard. Among all hockey traditions, aside from the right to touch the Cup, there is no more sacred a tradition that the playoff beard.

This will be an interesting postseason for Minnesota. It will be a daunting task, facing the best team in the NHL in Round One, but it’s going to be a lot of fun. That said, it’s time for a scouting report on the best potential playoff beards in Minnesota’s lineup.

Slam-dunks

Cal Clutterbuck – If Minnesota Wild facial hair is listed in the dictionary, its definition is Clutterbuck. His mustache growing skills are unparalleled in Minnesota’s system and his beard could be in the lead for best on the team. Projected Grade: A+

Clayton Stoner and Nate Prosser – Minnesota’s beard growing corps took a heavy hit with the Brent Burns and Greg Zanon trades, luckily, Clayton Stoner and Nate Prosser are there to pick up the slack. While not as “wild” and crazy as the other two, Stoner and Prosser’s beards are more than capable of stepping in and filling the gaping hole left on the back end. It’s important, too, because youngsters Jonas Brodin and Jared Spurgeon will not reach their beard growing potential for a while yet. Projected Grades: B+/A-

Mike Rupp – There’s no better protection for a role playing, grinding forward than a thick beard, and that’s exactly what Rupp has grown. There’s really no more to be said. Projected Grade: A+

Matt Cullen – Finally, a beard that has gone the distance, fought the good fight and achieved the ultimate pinnacle of professional hockey—the Stanley Cup. If Minnesota and their beards are going to go far in the playoffs, it’ll be up to Cullen and his beard to lead the way. Projected Grade: A+

Question Marks

Perhaps the real question will be whether or not the recent acquisitions of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter’s beards will be up to the task of leading this team.

Suter – It was always thought that Suter’s beard was Robin to Shea Weber’s beard’s Batman. In Minnesota’s postseason run, Robin will have to strike out on his own as the Red Hood, but in a blonde/light brown color. Projected Grade: Holy B-, Batman!

Parise – Zach captained the New Jersey Devils to within two wins of the Stanley Cup last season with nothing but a soul patch and a thin trickle of hair down the jaw bone. It begs to question, if he had grown a full beard, would the Devils have won the Stanley Cup? Would he now be a member of the Minnesota Wild? This is all in good fun, but, as anyone can see, he’s clearly lacking in the playoff beard department. Projected Grade: D-

Mikko Koivu – Minnesota’s fearless leader is seldom seen with a beard. However, his profile picture does indicate there is an enormous amount of potential. Projected Grade: B

In The Pipeline

Zack Phillips – The 28^th overall pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft is no stranger when it comes to playoff beards, first line winger Charlie Coyle can vouch for it. Phillips’ beard was on display when his Saint John Sea Dogs won the QMJHL championship in both 2011 and 2012 and also won the CHL’s Memorial Cup in 2011. This kid’s beard has the potential to be greater than the love child of Burns and Zanon’s beards. Now THAT’s scary. Projected Grade: Um…what’s higher than A+ times a million?

So what is there to get out of this? Not much, it’s all been in good fun. The point is, Minnesota is in the playoffs and Wild fans are just excited they have a team in the hunt for the Stanley Cup. Should Wild fans expect to beat the Blackhawks and move on to Round Two? Realistically, no; however, if the Los Angeles Kings can beat the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd seeds in the West before beating the New Jersey Devils in six games, so can Minnesota. We’ve gone from being the hunted, to being the hunters—we have nothing to lose and, if we play that way, it makes us very dangerous. This is definitely going to be a fun series to watch.