Why the Wild need the Blackhawks

The Chicago Blackhawks are a highly skilled team, they have a great goaltender, and they are the defending Stanley Cup champions. Some fans will say these are negatives for the Wild, that a matchup with a weaker, less heralded team would have been better, and some don’t give the Wild a chance. 

During round one, the Wild continually fought back against the Avalanche. They adjusted to slow down the high scoring blur that is Nathan MacKinnon, they peppered Semyon Varlamov with shots until they went through, and they answered every goal to come away with a much deserved series win. They beat the team with the second best record in the Western Conference during the regular season and at times thoroughly outplayed them. Beating an inexperienced team with no playoff experience is an accomplishment, but in order to take the next step and to establish themselves as contenders, the Wild need to face the Blackhawks.

Last season the Wild found themselves in a first round matchup against the Blackhawks and were dominated. The Blackhawks skated circles around them and beat them handily in five games on their way to the Stanley Cup. History could repeat itself this season, the Wild might lose this series, but they won’t be dominated, they won’t back down, and they won’t give up. The playoff experience of 2012 and coming back to win game seven on the road against the Avalanche shows they are ready. They have passed their first test, they belong here, and there is no greater measuring stick to see where they are as a team than facing the defending champs.