Last Updated on May 8, 2015 2:46 pm by admin
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – For the third straight year, the Minnesota Wild have been forced out of the NHL playoffs by the Chicago Blackhawks.
This defeat felt as bad as ever, given the way the Wild played in the second half of the regular season and in the first round against the St. Louis Blues. Goalie Devan Dubnyk said after the 4-3 loss to the Blackhawks on Thursday night that he was ”sick” about the sweep.
The most glaring problem was a lack of production by the Wild’s top forwards. Many of them struggled to find space against the Blackhawks and their well-positioned defensemen. Thomas Vanek went scoreless in the 10 playoff games. Mikko Koivu finished with a minus-4 rating for the postseason.