April 28--It was late Monday afternoon when the Blackhawks announced that single-game tickets for the potential third round of the Stanley Cup playoffs would go on sale Wednesday.
Logistically, the Hawks needed to get the sales going sooner than later, but the timing -- mere days before they are set to face the upstart Wild in Round 2 -- could have been better as there is plenty of work to do before that potential is reached.
In each of the last two years, the Hawks have eliminated the Wild in the playoffs, but that means basically nothing when it comes to the series set to begin later this week at the United Center. The current version of the Wild is not the one the Hawks rolled past in five games in 2013 or the one they dispatched in six games a year ago.
This Wild team is on a significant roll after surprising the Central Division champion Blues in the first round and continues to ride the scorching play of goaltender Devan Dubnyk.
"They're coming in hot," Hawks captain Jonathan Toews said of the Wild. "They're playing great hockey. They just beat a really, really good team. Obviously, (people) want to say that we've beat them the last two years, but I don't think there's any favorite in this series."
Just how far have the Wild come since the Hawks first spanked them in 2013?
"I guess we'll find out," Toews said. "But you have to have a lot of respect for them, for their complete game. They've got guys who can score, who can create offense in big games, but for the most part they rely on their defense and their skating ability to really shut teams down. Their goaltending has been real strong too."
Added coach Joel Quenneville: "(The Wild) have a lot of confidence. They play an excellent team game. They've got some speed, quickness (and) they made that trade for (Dubnyk). They've gained a lot of momentum off what they've achieved. We're very familiar with their team, what they're capable of doing and knowing that we've got a great challenge in front of us."
While the Wild have offensive talent with Zach Parise, Jason Pominville, Thomas Vanek and Mikko Koivu and are strong on the back end with Ryan Suter, Jared Spurgeon and Marco Scandella, among others, all eyes will be on Dubnyk. The veteran was acquired from the Coyotes on Jan. 14 and turned around the Wild's fortunes. In two regular-season starts against the Hawks, Dubnyk stopped 56 of 57 shots to win both.
"If he's sees the puck he's going to make it tough on you," Quenneville said. "You don't expect to score a lot of goals (so) you want to make sure you don't give up much."
For their part, the Wild know the offensive firepower, strong defensive play and solid goaltending from the Hawks will be a challenge.
"That's a team that's knocked us out for the last couple years so we've got to be ready for them," Parise told reporters in Minnesota. "These guys every year are Cup contenders. For us to want to get in that conversation with them, we've got to beat them. It will be a tough series."
ckuc@tribpub.com
