KCHK » Wild

HARDING FINALIST FOR MASTERTON AWARD

susan — Wed, 15 May 2013 15:42:45 +0000

Wild goalie Josh Harding is a finalist for the Bill Masterton Trophy, given for perseverance, dedication and sportsmanship. Harding was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis just prior to the start of the this past season. Harding played in all of the five Minnesota playoff games, notching his first career postseason win in the process. Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby and Boston’s Adam McQuaid are also finalists. Crosby played prep hockey at Shattuck-St. Mary’s in Faribault. The award is named after the former North Stars forward, who is the only player in league history to die as a result of injuries suffered on the ice.

NO COACHING CHANGE FOR THE WILD

susan — Mon, 13 May 2013 15:28:02 +0000

The Wild aren’t making any changes with the coaching staff. General Manager Chuck Fletcher announced Saturday that Mike Yeo would be back for a third season as head coach with Minnesota. After adding high-profile free agents Zach Parise and Ryan Suter in the offseason, the Wild were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Blackhawks.

WILD IN CHICAGO TONIGHT

susan — Thu, 09 May 2013 19:56:17 +0000

The Wild will try to avoid elimination when they battle the Blackhawks tonight in Game Five of their NHL Western Conference quarterfinal series in Chicago. The Blackhawks blanked the Wild 3-0 on Tuesday in St. Paul to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven set. If the Wild win tonight, they would host Game Six on Saturday. The puck drops tonight at 8:30 p.m.

Here is the best-of-seven series schedule and results for the NHL Quarterfinal matchup between Minnesota and Chicago:

Tuesday (4/30): Chicago 2, Minnesota 1 (overtime-final; CHI leads series 1-0),

Friday (5/3): Chicago 5, Minnesota 2 (CHI leads series 2-0),

Sunday (5/5): Minnesota 3, Chicago 2 (overtime-final; CHI leads series 2-1),

Tuesday (5/7): Blackhawks 3, Wild 0 (CHI leads series 3-1),

Thursday (5/9): Wild at Blackhawks, 8:30pm,

Saturday (5/11): Blackhawks at Wild, if necessary, TBA,

Sunday (5/12): Wild at Blackhawks, if necessary, TBA.

HAWKS BLANK WILD

susan — Wed, 08 May 2013 15:09:06 +0000

Chicago’s Patrick Sharp scored twice as the Blackhawks blanked the Wild 3-0 in Game Four of their Western Conference quarterfinal series in St. Paul. Bryan Bickell added a tally midway through the third period for Chicago, which holds a three-games-to-one lead in the best-of-seven series. Corey Crawford posted 25 saves for the shutout victory. Minnesota goalie Josh Harding made five saves in the first period but did not start the second. He gave way to Darcy Kuemper to start the middle period after Harding sustained a left leg injury. Kuemper allowed two goals on 18 shots in defeat for Minnesota. The Blackhawks can close out the series with a win at home in Game Five tomorrow in Chicago. The Blackhawks flew back to the Windy City after last night’s game. Minnesota will depart for Chicago this afternoon.

WILD/HAWKS PLAY TONIGHT

susan — Tue, 07 May 2013 16:51:34 +0000

The Wild look to even up their Western Conference quarterfinal series with the Blackhawks tonight in Game Four at the Xcel Energy Center. Minnesota clipped Chicago 3-2 in overtime in Game Three on Sunday on rookie Jason Zucker’s goal. The Blackhawks still lead the best-of-seven set two-games-to-one. Yesterday, Wild veteran Jason Pominville practiced for the first time this postseason. After tonight’s game, the series will shift back to Chicago for Game Five on Thursday. Tonight’s game is set to face off at 8:30 p.m.

The Wild have called up defenseman Matt Dumba and forward Carson McMillan from AHL Houston. The 18-year-old Dumba appears in five games with Houston after spending most of the season with Red Deer in the WHL. Dumba began the season with the Wild. McMillan played in 64 regular season games for Houston this season.

Forward Dave Bolland and goaltender Ray Emery will not play for the Blackhawks tonight in Game Four against the Wild. Each player did practice yesterday despite a lower-body injury. Goalie Corey Crawford did not practice yesterday, but was just resting after starting all three games of the series according to head coach Joel Quenneville.

WILD WIN IN OT

susan — Mon, 06 May 2013 15:39:09 +0000

Minnesota rookie Jason Zucker tallied just a little over two-minutes into the overtime period to lift the Wild to a 3-2 win over the Blackhawks in Game Three of their best-of-seven Western Conference quarterfinals. The victory pulled Minnesota to within a game, as Chicago still leads the set two-games-to-one. Pierre-Marc Bouchard and Zach Parise scored in regulation for Minnesota, which hosts Game Four tomorrow in St. Paul. Josh Harding stopped 25 shots in the win. Duncan Keith scored with under three minutes in the third period to tie the game, and Johnny Oduya also lit the lamp for Chicago. Corey Crawford posted 34 saves in defeat.

The Wild recalled forwards Jake Dowell, Mikael Granlund and Stephane Veilleux from Houston of the AHL before yesterday’s game against the Blackhawks. Veilleux was the only one of the three to play in the contest. The trio became available after Houston’s season ended on Saturday.

Here is the best-of-seven series schedule and results for the NHL Quarterfinal matchup between Minnesota and Chicago:

Tuesday (4/30): Chicago 2, Minnesota 1 (overtime-final; CHI leads series 1-0),

Friday (5/3): Chicago 5, Minnesota 2 (CHI leads series 2-0),

Sunday (5/5): Minnesota 3, Chicago 2 (overtime-final; CHI leads series 2-1),

Tuesday (5/7): Blackhawks at Wild, 8:30pm,

Thursday (5/9): Wild at Blackhawks, if necessary, TBA,

Saturday (5/11): Blackhawks at Wild, if necessary, TBA,

Sunday (5/12): Wild at Blackhawks, if necessary, TBA.

WILD/HAWKS GAME TWO TONIGHT

susan — Fri, 03 May 2013 15:13:52 +0000

The Wild look to even their Western Conference quarterfinal series with the Blackhawks when the teams meet tonight in Game Two in Chicago. The ‘Hawks edged the Wild 2-1 in overtime in Game One on Tuesday. After tonight’s game, the series shifts to Minnesota for Games Three and Four on Sunday and Tuesday, respectively.

WILD PLAY FRIDAY, RECALL KUEMPER

susan — Thu, 02 May 2013 15:21:07 +0000

The Wild continue to prepare for tomorrow night’s Game Two of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series against the Chicago Blackhawks. The ‘Hawks earned a 2-1 overtime victory in Game One on Tuesday. After tomorrow’s game, the series will shift to Minnesota for Games Three and Four on Sunday and Tuesday, respectively.

The Wild have recalled goaltender Darcy Kuemper from Houston of the AHL. Kuemper went 1-and-2 with a 2.08 goals-against-average in six games with the Wild this season. He also was 13-and-8 with a 1.88 GAA in 21 regular season contests with Houston and 1-and-1 with a 1.51 GAA in two playoff starts.

CHICAGO WINS GAME 1 IN OT

susan — Wed, 01 May 2013 17:19:57 +0000

Chicago’s Viktor Stalberg fed Bryan Bickell for the game winner in overtime to hand the Blackhawks a 2-1 win over the Wild in Game One of their Western Conference Quarterfinal series last night in the Windy City. Marian Hossa tied the game with a power-play tally early in the second period for Chicago, which won the Presidents’ Trophy this year. Corey Crawford made 26 saves in the win. Josh Harding was forced into a start in the cage for Minnesota after Niklas Backstrom was injured during pregame warmups. Harding stopped 35 shots in defeat. Cal Clutterbuck gave the Wild a lead less than five minutes into the game with a nifty goal. Game Two of this series is Friday in Chicago.

Here is the best-of-seven series schedule and results for the NHL

Quarterfinal matchup between Minnesota and Chicago:

Tuesday (4/30): Chicago 2, Minnesota 1 (overtime-final; CHI leads series 1-0),

Friday (5/3): Wild at Blackhawks, 8:30pm,

Sunday (5/5): Blackhawks at Wild, 2pm,

Tuesday (5/7): Blackhawks at Wild, 8:30pm,

Thursday (5/9): Wild at Blackhawks, if necessary, TBA,

Saturday (5/11): Blackhawks at Wild, if necessary, TBA,

Sunday (5/12): Wild at Blackhawks, if necessary, TBA.

WILD/CHICAGO TONIGHT

susan — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 15:32:05 +0000

The Wild battle the Blackhawks tonight in Chicago in Game One of their Western Conference quarterfinal series. Minnesota grabbed the eighth-seed in the West following a 3-1 win in Colorado on Saturday. Chicago captured the Presidents’ Trophy after finishing with a league-best 77 points. The puck drops at 7 p.m.