Minnesota Wild Lose Game 6: Season Over
By Scott Drain
May 13, 2014; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Minnesota Wild left Wing Zach Parise (11) congratulates Chicago Blackhawks forward Jonathan Toews (19) on the Blackhawks win of game six of the second round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Xcel Energy Center. The Blackhawks clinch the second round with a 2-1 victory over the Wild in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Marilyn Indahl-USA TODAY Sports
The Minnesota Wild lost game 6 of their Stanley Cup Playoff Conference Semi-Final series to the Chicago Blackhawks last night by a final score of 2-1 in overtime. A bad bounce off of a stanchion between the glass panels deflected the puck out in front of the Wild net and Patrick Kane of the Blackhawks put it in past a diving Bryzgalov. A tough, tough way to end the season and a good run in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. One bad bounce cost the Wild the game, series, and season. It didn’t need to be that way, but the Wild just couldn’t capitalize on opportunities earlier in the game.
May 13, 2014; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Chicago Blackhawks forward Peter Regin (12) clears the puck away from Minnesota Wild right Wing Jason Pominville (29) and an open net in the second period of game six of the second round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Marilyn Indahl-USA TODAY Sports
One goal would have made all the difference in regulation as the Minnesota Wild held the Blackhawks to just a single goal on 22 shots over 60 minutes. The same could be said for Chicago holding Minnesota to one goal as well. The Wild outplayed and out chanced the Blackhawks throughout the game. All of that effort netted the Wild just one goal however.
Erik Haula scored a beauty of a goal to tie the game at one each early in the second period. He took a pass from Matt Cooke and streaked up the ice blowing past the Chicago defenders before beating Corey Crawford cleanly with a snap shot. That unfortunately would be the extent of the Wild’s scoring for the night. Minnesota had a bunch of grade A chances to score but each time something went wrong. Shots were whiffed, sent wide, players just couldn’t quite get a stick on the puck. It was a frustrating night for the Minnesota Wild.
The Wild played a great game out shooting the Blackhawks 35 to 27. The problem was they couldn’t score when they needed it most in regulation. The season has drawn to a close and it was a good one for the Wild. They made it out of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs and showed they can hold their own and even beat the league’s best. Over the next few days GonePuckWild.com will take a look back at this season, the highs and the lows. This was the most exciting playoff run the Wild have had since 2003. Next season they plan on doing even better. Until next time this is Scott Drain still shouting, “Let’s Go Wild!”