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No more second chances.
After tonight, we won't be hearing about how the Wild will have to bounce back. We're not going to hear Mike Yeo say that he's excited to see his top line respond to the latest loss. We won't be seeing Nik Backstrom's stats the game after he gets pulled.
Win tonight, or the season is over. It's really that simple.
It's unclear what the Wild will do to fix their deficiencies, and speculating on that is the major story of the day. Most of these pertain to- you'll never guess- the 0-for-15 Power Play.
So, what kind of shenanigans will occur in tonight's true "must-win" game? Find out in the Walk.
And as a side note, I just want the Wild to win so I don't have to do the Wilderness Walk: Eugoogly Edition.
Wild News
For the Wild, it's fight or the end | StarTribune.com- I can't believe that there are rumblings about people losing jobs. I don't know who (other than Barry Melrose) thought the Wild were going to advance from the first round this year. This season hasn't been a failure, and this series has hardly brought any embarrassment to the franchise. They took a game, and haven't fallen on their faces.
Tom Powers: Even though it feels like Wild are done, there's still time - TwinCities.com- At least 60 minutes of it.
Wild shooters aim to overcome Chicago's lane-clogging defense | StarTribune.com- Chicago's defense is really good. If St. Louis/LA can't stop them, they're going to win the Cup.
Minnesota Wild: Punchless power play presents perplexing problem - TwinCities.com- If you got a problem/Yeo'll solve it/Give Toews a hook while his top line revolve it?
Scoggins: It's easy to see talent gap between Wild, Blackhawks | StarTribune.com- You know what? Now it seems that way. But let's see how this plays out in two years. The Hawks just might be in the same cap hell they were in a few years ago, and the Wild's prospects will be emerging, and if they're any good...
How the Minnesota Wild are similar to the 2009 Chicago Blackhawks - The Hockey News- Ryan Kennedy expands on my previous few sentences.
2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs – Minnesota Wild Fighting To Stay Alive - Gone Puck Wild- That they are.
Tending the Fields
The Third Intermission: Another trip down memory lane: From the IHL to Todd McLellan to Rob Daum- Some more Aeros retrospecting.
Prospect Watch: Minnesota Wild 7th Rounder Louis Nanne Drafted by USHL’s Stampede - Gone Puck Wild- Good for him. After getting a bunch of crap after the draft last year from his own team's fans- as a SEVENTH ROUND PICK- I'm really rooting for the guy to do well.
Off the Trail
Watch This: Parks And Rec's Retta Needs To Be An NHL Analyst- #want. This is LITERALLY the best hockey jersey I have ever seen. Someday, I want to wear it at the mall, and cry.
Ducks one win away from eliminating Red Wings after 3-2 OT victory (Video) | Puck Daddy - Yahoo! Sports- Can both these teams lose and not make it to the next round?
Slava Voynov’s OT goal gives Kings 3-2 series lead over Blues (Video) | Puck Daddy - Yahoo! Sports- Can both these teams win and make it to the next round.
The Penguins are starting Tomas Vokoun Thursday, which means their goalie situation just got weird | Backhand Shelf | Blogs | theScore.com- Or hilarious, depending on your general opinion of the Penguins (Mine is of mere ambivalence).
What the hell do the Vancouver Canucks do now? | Puck Daddy - Yahoo! Sports- Golf. Duh.
Enemy News
For news and analysis on the Chicago Blackhawks, please visit our sister site Second City Hockey, as well as the Chicago Sun-Times.
Reusse: Blackhawks' Hossa again proving he made right move | StarTribune.com- I totally forgot that the Wild made a run at Hossa. Only thing that I took issue with in this article is that Reusse cited Hossa's average salary as being 5.35 million per year, or whatever it averages out to be. It's really 7.9 million a year, unless you think Marian Hossa will be playing for 1 million per year, from the age of 39-42. And if you believe that, I've got an awesome soy farm that Ron Swanson owns to sell you.