Wilderness Walk 5-1-2013: Close, But No Cigar Edition

Huge night. We have an official stance on last night's game here. Here are, quickly, my thoughts.

I'm too impressed that this was a close game to begin with to be all that disappointed that they didn't win. But I should be disappointed.

Here's the Walk:

Wild News

Recaps

Wild, Harding work overtime but lose 2-1 to Chicago | StarTribune.com

Minnesota Wild drop Game 1 to Blackhawks in OT - TwinCities.com

Harding does job, but Wild suffers tough overtime loss as Chicago takes Game 1 | StarTribune.com

Wild drop Game One in 2-1 overtime thriller in Chicago

Other

Wild notes: Youngsters, and those not so young, make playoff debuts | StarTribune.com- The Wild's youngins, Pominville's status, and what Bruno is doing now.

Souhan: Harding fills in amazingly for injured Backstrom | StarTribune.com- Souhan breaks his cardinal rule: If you have something nice to say, don't say it at all. But what a game for Josh Harding.

Tom Powers: Series takes weird start for Wild - TwinCities.com- It was indeed weird. I didn't think they'd take it to Chicago on the road. Too bad they came empty-handed.

Chicago Blackhawks (1) vs. Minnesota Wild (8): Puck Daddy’s NHL 2013 Stanley Cup Playoff Preview- A series preview for you to consume.

First Round Bust: Thinking Aloud About The Playoff Series. (A preview, if you will)- First Round Bust has given us another one.

Series Preview, Chicago Blackhawks and Minnesota Wild | The Hockey Writers : The Hockey Writers- Another series preview for your consumption.

NHL 2013 Playoffs: Three Keys To Minnesota Wild Upset : The Hockey Writers- Are these as good as our five keys? You decide! (But really, it's ours. Sorry, bros.)

Do You Remember The First Time?-The Minnesota Wild's Post-Season History (Part 1)- Ger gives us a Minnesota Wild playoff retrospective. You go 1/3 in terms of happy memories.

Minnesota Wild: 2012-13 Regular Season Review | The Hockey Writers : The Hockey Writers- Sheng Peng wraps up the regular season for us.

Tending the Fields

The Third Intermission: It is over...- Houston is not taking this whole "Backstrom is hurt" thing well.

Team Rankings: Talented, well-balanced prospect pool gives Florida Panthers top spot - Hockey's Future- Where will the Wild be?

First Round Bust: Wild Prospect Notes: Raphael Bussieres Advances, Tyler Graovac's Season Ends- Does Graovac contribute to the Aeros during their playoff run?

Off the Trail

Alex Steen wins Game 1 for Blues after Jonathan Quick’s stunning gaffe (Video) | Puck Daddy - Yahoo! Sports- Sorry, Sheng.

Ageless Teemu Selanne gives talented Anaheim Ducks extra punch - ESPN- Teesma Selanne is amazing.

Puck Daddy’s 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs staff prognostications | Puck Daddy - Yahoo! Sports- Normally, I'd be mad no one is giving the Wild a chance. But I'm not, either. So...

NHL playoffs X-factors for Chicago Blackhawks, Pittsburgh Penguins, more - NHL - Brian Cazeneuve - SI.com- In addition to these X-factor videos, you'll have links to basically, all the SI playoff content information, ever.

Top 10 Stanley Cup Playoff storylines to watch in the 2013 NHL postseason | Puck Daddy - Yahoo! Sports- 5 and 6 will be of interest.

2013 NHL playoffs - Burnside's five players on the hot seat - ESPN- 4 will be of interest.

Odds to win the 2013 Conn Smythe Trophy | Backhand Shelf | Blogs | theScore.com- Get your bets placed on Clayton Stoner now, peoples.

NHL Awards Watch: The final rankings | Puck Daddy - Yahoo! Sports- #SuterForNorris

NHL Awards: A transparent look at one voter’s ballot | Backhand Shelf | Blogs | theScore.com- #BrodinForCalder

Colorado Avalanche win NHL Draft Lottery, will select No. 1 overall | Puck Daddy - Yahoo! Sports- Yeah, yeah, yeah, Jones is gonna go to the hometown team. But what's really interesting is this- how the hell did I not realize Tampa Bay would be picking third?!

No | Backhand Shelf | Blogs | theScore.com- Agreed. Gross. Not just an affront to history. But also, gross.