Minnesota 4, Chicago 2
When: 9:30 PM ET, Friday, May 9, 2014
Where: Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul, Minnesota
Referees:
Dave Jackson, Dan O'Rourke
Linesmen:
Derek Amell, Derek Nansen
Attendance:
19405
By SportsDirect Inc.
Wild 4, Blackhawks 2: Defenseman Jared Spurgeon recorded a power-play goal and an assist as host Minnesota evened its Western Conference second-round series with Chicago at two games apiece.
Justin Fontaine, Jason Pominville and Nino Niederreiter also scored for the Wild, who improved to 5-0 at home this postseason. Blue-liner Ryan Suter notched a pair of assists and Ilya Bryzgalov turned aside 18 shots.
Patrick Sharp and Michal Handzus tallied for the Blackhawks, who host a pivotal Game 5 on Sunday. Marian Hossa set up both goals and Corey Crawford finished with 27 saves.
Minnesota got on the board at 7:24 of the first period as Fontaine beat Crawford from low in the right faceoff circle following a turnover for his first career playoff goal. Sharp drew Chicago even with 39 seconds remaining on a sharp-angle shot from the bottom of the right circle, but Pominville banked the puck off Crawford and in from behind the net 3:51 into the second for a 2-1 edge.
The Blackhawks forged a tie when Handzus redirected defenseman Brent Seabrook's shot from the right point past Bryzgalov at 6:28, but the Wild quickly reclaimed the lead as Niederreiter rifled the puck into the top right corner of the net from the left circle 44 seconds later. Spurgeon created some breathing room at 3:47 of the third, converting a diagonal cross-slot pass by captain Mikko Koivu from the top of the left circle for a power-play tally.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The reigning Stanley Cup-champion Blackhawks fell to 1-4 on the road this postseason. ... Minnesota D Keith Ballard suffered an undisclosed injury on a hit by Chicago LW Brandon Bollig late in the second period and did not return. ... Wild LW Matt Cooke returned from his seven-game suspension for kneeing Colorado D Tyson Barrie in the first round and registered an assist. ... Minnesota Vikings WR Cordarrelle Patterson and new teammate QB Teddy Bridgewater, who was selected in the first round of the NFL draft on Thursday, were in attendance.
Top Game Performances
| Chicago |
|
Minnesota |
|
Marian Hossa 2 |
Points |
Jared Spurgeon 2 |
|
Michal Handzus 1 |
Goals |
Jared Spurgeon 1 |
|
Marian Hossa 2 |
Assists |
Ryan Suter 2 |
|
N/A |
Power Play Goals |
Jared Spurgeon 1 |
|
N/A |
Short Handed Goals |
N/A |
|
Corey Crawford .871 |
Save Percentage |
Ilya Bryzgalov .900 |
|
Corey Crawford 27 |
Saves |
Ilya Bryzgalov 18 |
Team Stats Summary
| Team |
Shots |
Goals |
Power Play |
Penalty Kill |
Penalty Mins |
Face Offs Won |
| Chicago
|
20 |
2 |
0-2 |
4-5 |
10 |
25 |
| Minnesota
|
31 |
4 |
1-5 |
2-2 |
4 |
34 |
Upcoming Games
-
Minnesota will play their next game on the road against Chicago. The Wild have a W/L % of .558 after a win and .487 after a loss.
-
Chicago will play their next game at home against Minnesota. The Blackhawks have a W/L % of .532 after a win and .600 after a loss.
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