The Chicago Blackhawks just made a tough postseason matchup look easy.
Facing one of the hottest goaltenders in the league, Patrick Kane and company dusted off their sniping tools and battled their way through a quick four game series. Devan Dubnyk was good at times for the Wild, but he was definitely not as good as he needed to be.
In three out of four games, the Wild’s regular season MVP allowed 3+ goals and had a save percentage at .900 or lower. His numbers were better against the Blues, but not good enough against a more talented Blackhawks club.
For the Hawks, they continue on their quest for the team’s third Stanley Cup since 2010. However, the road will not be getting any easier as they lost defenseman Michal Roszival for what we suspect will be the remainder of the playoffs after a brutal looking ankle injury.
He was injured early in the second period on a play that looked innocent enough. Skating backwards through the neutral zone, Roszival lost his balance and tumbled backwards. The awkward fall resulted in his left foot being caught underneath his body as he fell, and his ankle twisted and bent backwards.
Roszival may not be the best defenseman for the Blackhawks, but he’s a veteran and eats up around 16 minutes of quality ice time each game. He was a member of their 2013 Stanley Cup winning team, and knows what it takes to be a Champion.
The Blackhawks will move on to face either the Anaheim Ducks or Calgary Flames in the Western Conference Finals. The Ducks are the more likely opponent, and would feature two of the postseasons premier scorers in Patrick Kane and Corey Perry. Each player currently leads their respective team in goals scored during the playoffs, as well as points.
