Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports
Welcome to Josh Harding’s nightmare.
Tuesday night at the United Center in Chicago the Minnesota Wild’s backup goalie was settling in on the bench and listening to some crunchy pregame rock-n-roll when his world turned upside-down.
During warm-ups starting goalie Niklas Backstrom gingerly skated over to the bench, and was then led to the locker room by the training staff after a brief conversation with Minnesota coach Mike Yeo.
Harding, who’d only played in five games all season after being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis last summer, was told to tighten up his skates: game one was his for the taking.
“Get out there son!! It’s only the playoffs! Yeah I know it’s a madhouse in here! So what if they’re the league’s best team? Just give it your best buddy!”
Now most of us would’ve responded to this little pep talk by puking all over our shoes, but Harding dug in and put up a phenomenal 35 save effort that kept the Wild in it until late in the first overtime when Bryan Bickell finally won it for Chicago.
After the game, Harding was widely praised for his gutsy effort and upon returning to Minnesota late that night, he spent the next two days up north saying all the right things about needing to get better and keeping the Hawks out of the net.
Meanwhile, here in the Windy City, Chicago Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville was fuming. He acknowledged the team’s slow first period in the playoff opener might have been nerves, but overall called the team’s victory “Very disappointing,” according to reports. He went on to say, “We were more on the receiving end. They scored first and we watched a little bit. We didn’t dictate how the game should be played as far as how fast we wanted it.”
So, the Hawks spent the next two days practicing and getting things, well, back up to speed. The result was a 48 shot offensive explosion that yielded five goals and left the Wild down 2-0 and reeling as they stagger back to St. Paul. Harding, who faced 73 shots the entire season, has now faced 85 shots in the first two games of the playoffs and must be terribly curious about the health of his fellow goalie.
The Hawks offense was so potent last night that they managed to put five goals on the scoreboard without a single point from the top line! So, not only does Harding have to stay sharp for all four of Chicago’s lines, but he’s got to be careful when his team’s on the power play as well. Michael Frolik scored his second goal of the night by sending Duncan Keith’s deflected pass through the wickets to gouge the Wild for their first short-handed goal of the season.
And did I mention the Hawks have not lost in regulation with forward Patrick Sharp back in the line-up? He scored twice last night and with his return, the second line that includes Patrick Kane and Michal Handzus, must look like an oncoming freight train as the Hawks All-Star first line comes off the ice.
If the Hawks continue to get production from all four lines this series is going to be over in a heartbeat. The Wild simply don’t have the firepower to keep up with Chicago, much less attempt to do so with a seldom used back-up in net.
If I’m Josh Harding, I go hard at practice and give my team everything I’ve got during today’s skate-around. Then I head into the locker room, take a long, hot shower, and fall out of it.
I figure a good ole twisted ankle sounds mighty fine as compared to another night versus the Hawks offense.
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+.
