Wild try to prove things are different this time against Blackhawks
ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Climbing to relevance in the Western Conference, the Minnesota Wild's ascent was halted each of the past two years by the same obstacle.
The Chicago Blackhawks have held the rung for which Minnesota desired. The Wild, climbing the ladder the past two seasons, wasn't granted the next step by Chicago.
The bully at the top waits for Minnesota again.
"Hopefully, third time's the charm," Wild defenseman Ryan Suter said.
As Minnesota prepares for the Blackhawks again, the second straight meeting between the two teams in the second round of the West playoffs, the hope is things are different this time around. The Wild, with more depth, experience and goaltender Devan Dubnyk, have been asked what's different as the teams open their series Friday in Chicago.
Truth is, difference will only be shown by the performance on the ice.
"Nothing's different right now," Minnesota head coach Mike Yeo said. "They've beaten us two years in a row and so it's up to us to prove that something is different. It's up to us to make something different. In other years we've gone in and we've said we've played pretty well against them. Last year we went in thinking we were pretty good against them but nothing was different. I think it's up to us to find something and make something different."
Chicago is the older brother -- in terms of experience and Stanley Cups, in this case -- not willing to give an inch to the younger Wild. Much like a sibling rivalry, pride and jealousy only increase the potential in this rivalry.
The Blackhawks are what Minnesota aspires to be: a skilled team with playoff experience that is always a contender for the Stanley Cup. The Wild have taken steps, but Chicago has stopped Minnesota from becoming one of the West's elite teams.
Two years ago, the Wild were happy to be back in the playoffs. The Blackhawks unceremoniously ended the positive feelings with a five-game series victory, outscoring Minnesota 17-7 in the process.
"I think in years before, we had a good team," Wild center Charlie Coyle said. "We were just happy to be in the playoffs, to be honest. I think this time around, we know we have a team that can do something special, to make a run. And we have the confidence to go with it, I think, and that's huge. We just have to keep building that. The group we have in here, we like our chances."
Only Minnesota can prove times have changed.
The Wild felt there was a difference last year. They carried momentum by advancing to the second round of the playoffs for just the second time in franchise history. The young players had gained playoff experience.
Minnesota then recovered from a 2-0 deficit in the series by taking the first two games back at home against Chicago in the second round. A tight series came down to an awkward bounce off the end board which inevitably found the stick of Blackhawks star Patrick Kane.
Second round instead of first, six games instead of five, but Yeo and the Wild were fishing and golfing while Chicago played on.
The feeling sticks with Minnesota as they get ready for another opportunity against the Blackhawks.
Even Dubnyk, who might be the biggest difference this time, senses the yearning to beat Chicago from his teammates.
"I think everybody's in a real good mindset here after the first series," Dubnyk said. "And after what happened last year, everyone seems really hungry and business-like to want to continue to work forward."
The Blackhawks were a big part of the December and January swoon for the Wild, adding to Minnesota's misery with three victories in the growing rivalry. Three days after the teams played on Jan. 11, the Wild traded for Dubnyk.
Minnesota won the remaining two games, with Dubnky stopping 56 of the 57 shots he faced.
Perhaps it's fitting Chicago stands in the Wild's way of reaching the conference finals for the first time since the team's first-ever playoff appearance in 2003.
"Maybe we'll have some payback," Coyle said. "You always remember that. They're the team that knocked us out the last two years, so we want to be on the winning end of things this time around. We want to be the ones to knock them out. I don't think we could have written it better to face these guys now."
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