For the Wild tonight, it’s win or go home. Certainly, it is a position the Wild has been in before. Most recently during the last series where the Wild were in the exact same position, down 3 games to 2, and came out on top by demonstrating the ability to not only win at home with their proverbial backs against the wall, but to also steal a game on the road, their only road victory that series. However, this mountain is much steeper to climb as the opponent isn’t a plucky bunch of younsters, many of whom were playing in their first-ever playoff series. Rather, this effort is against the defending champions and high flying Hawks.

Since 2009, the Blackhawks have recorded a 14-2 record in Games 4-7 during their last five post-season series and have earned an 11-2 mark in potential series-clinching situations. Simply put, the Hawks tend to put their foot on the gas when it’s time to clinch and Wild fans can expect to see an extraordinary effort from Chicago tonight at Xcel Energy Center.

But, the fact that the game is in Minnesota bodes well for the Wild as Minnesota and Chicago are the only remaining teams in the NHL post-season to remain undefeated at home. The Wild have outscored their opponents 16-5 during their 5 games on home ice this post season, including having scored 8 goals and allowing none in the third period of those 5 home playoff games this year. Not to mention that the Wild have an all-time record of 3-1 when playing in Game 6 in a playoff series and are 3-0 when Game 6 is played at home in the playoffs. They have outscored their opponents 13-5 in those three prior Game 6’s. Should the Wild win this Game 6 tonight, they will be the first NHL team to force two consecutive Game 7’s in the same post-season without holding a series lead since 1987.

16 different players have scored for the Wild this post-season, an NHL high. The Wild is outhitting Chicago this series and recently set a franchise record for most hits in a game (regular season or playoffs) in Game 5 against Chicago. The Wild lead the NHL with 109 takeaways (the most this post-season) AND 55 giveaways (the fewest this post-season). The Wild have limited their opponents to an average of 19.2 shots per game this post season at home and 23.8 overall, the lowest average in the NHL.

Top goal scorers for the Blackhawks are Bickell (6), Toews (5) and Kane (5). For the Wild, Parise (4), Granlund (4) and Brodziak (3). On assists, Hossa (9), Seabrook (8) and Keith (5) lead the Blackhawks, while Parise (10), Pomminville (7) and Koivu (8) lead the Wild. While that may look daunting, the Wild have 11 players with 6 points or more during this post-season for a total of 81 points, while the Blackhawks only have 8 players with 6 or more points for a total of only 69 points this post-season.

On special teams this post-season, the Wild are 7th on the power play at home while the Hawks are tied for 15th while on the road. On the penalty kill, the Hawks are tied for 2nd on the road and the Wild are 3rd at home. You would think that the advantage would be in Minnesota’s favor, however, when playing with the 5 on 4 advantage, the Hawks have scored 6 and allowed none, while the Wild have only scored 5 and allowed 2 goals with the man advantage.

In goal differential by period, the Hawks are +1 over the Wild in the first, even with the Wild in the 2nd and –2 as compared to the Wild in the third period this post-season. When comparing goals allowed, the Hawks have allowed one fewer goals in the first, 6 fewer in the second and the teams are even in the third period this post-season. In the plus/minus ratings, the Wild are +28 and –19 while the Hawks are +42 and –17 this post-season.

Needless to say, the Wild will need to repeat each of their previous home efforts and watch out for the Hawks when they start to pour it on tonight. I believe tonight we will see who the Blackhawks really are, either another championship caliber team or a team that is capable of being beaten. Isn’t that why they play the best of seven series? I believe the Wild will win tonight and force another Game 7 in Chicago on Thursday. Besides the play of Crawford, the X factor for the Blackhawks last game was, in my opinion, the play of Peter Regin who came in for suspended Brandon Bollig. The Bollig suspension may end up being a bad thing for the Wild if Regin continues to bring the kind of game he played last time. Notwithstanding, each game the Wild have played this post-season, the Wild have shown or proven that they can skate and play with the defending champs.

But, in order to be the champ you have to beat the champs. In this case twice. Quietly and confidently, I believe the Minnesota Wild are up to the task. What do you think and why?

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