Chicago Blackhawks: 5 Keys to Beating the Minnesota Wild

Can the Chicago Blackhawks Live Up to the Hype?

There’s a formula for beating the Minnesota Wild in the playoffs, however I don’t have it.

I called the Chicago Blackhawks toll-free 800 number and asked to speak with coach Joel Quenneville, but the nice old lady on the phone thought it would be more fun to ridicule me, and so I was forced to remind her that diapers were meant for children.

Then she hung up.

Since I couldn’t get through to the man with the master plan, I’ve decided to use my extensive knowledge of all things hockey to come up with a plan for how to beat the Wild and advance to the second round of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs.

The recipe seems to be fairly simple at first glance: continue to do exactly what has gotten you to this point. Chicago’s earned home-ice advantage all throughout the playoffs by playing suffocating defense (tops in the league in goals allowed) and by scoring a ton of goals (second in goals scored). They've also taken two of three against the Wild and lost the third in a shootout during the regular season, so logic tells us if they can maintain that win percentage, they’ll keep on truckin’.

Unfortunately once the playoffs start, teams seem to employ this absurd concept called a “game plan,” and so for the sake of convincing myself I’m anything other than an oafish Lazy-boy pilot, I thought I’d serve up five keys for escaping the first round.

The Wild's troubles of late have been tied to their struggling captain

5. Lean on Captain Mikko Koivu

When the Wild were battling for the fourth and fifth seed in the playoffs in March, captain Koivu was rolling. He had six goals and 13 assists that month and had the team running on all cylinders. However, April flowers brought bad vibes for Koivu, as he’s only scored four points and been -6 while on the ice for Minnesota since then. In three games against the Hawks, he has a single assist and eight shots on goal, and so if the Hawks can keep Koivu from heating up, their second line should have the edge.

The Wild will only go as far as Zach Parise can carry them

4. Harass Zach Parise

Parise has been the center of the Minnesota offense this season, leading them in both goals (18), and points (38). He’s failed to register a point versus the Hawks in three games this year thanks in no small part to defensemen Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook, who seem to have figured out a way to antagonize him whenever his shift comes up. Look for coach Q to make sure the defense is all over Parise as the Wild have very little offensively when he’s not doing his part.

Can Marian Hossa get the power play up to speed?

3. Take advantage of the power play

In a season where pretty much everything has gone right, the Chicago power play has been the lone eye sore. If the Hawks can figure out a way to get some production out of this unit, low-scoring teams like Minnesota (second worst of the playoff teams with 122 goals scored) have no chance of keeping up with their firepower. Look for Hall-of-Famer Marian Hossa to step up big here as his career has been defined by clutch power play goals.

The Hawks need to keep the puck on Niklas Backstrom

2. Pepper Niklas Backstrom

The Minnesota goalie fought admirably to get his team into the postseason, but his 2.48 GAA is cause for concern. The Hawks will gladly fire away at Backstrom until they get him to surrender his average knowing that both of their goalies yield over half a goal per game less. If Chicago can put at least 30 shots on him, he’s gonna have a tough time coming up with enough saves to keep the Wild involved late in games.

If the Hawks play smart Crawford will do the rest

1. Don’t turn the puck over in front of Corey Crawford

The Hawks goalie has dealt with some pretty harsh criticism these last few years — what a bunch of jerks those people are — and still managed to put up a phenomenal regular season. His only weakness appears to be his frustration when the Hawks leave him on an island in his own end, and so if Chicago can keep from turning the puck over in their own zone, Crawford’s confidence will continue to carry him and the Hawks deep into the Playoffs.

I got Chicago in five—no thanks to the old lady who answers the hotline.

Parker Dodson is a Chicago Blackhawks writer for www.rantsports.com. Follow him on Twitter, “like” him on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google+.