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Can the Wild catch the Blackhawks in the NHL Playoff standings?

By Vinnie Criscenzo

May 9, 2014; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Minnesota Wild forward Justin Fontaine (14) celebrates his goal with forward Erik Haula (56) during the first period against the Chicago Blackhawks in game four of the second round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
May 9, 2014; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Minnesota Wild forward Justin Fontaine (14) celebrates his goal with forward Erik Haula (56) during the first period against the Chicago Blackhawks in game four of the second round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /
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With just one point separating the two teams, can the Minnesota Wild surpass the Chicago Blackhawks in the Central Division?

Entering Saturday’s games, the Chicago Blackhawks lead the Minnesota Wild in the Central Division standings by just a single point. Granted, the Blackhawks do have a game in hand on the Wild.

It’s no surprise to find the Blackhawks where they are in the standings. They are one of the premier teams in the NHL and are expected to be one of the top teams in the Central Division, as well as the Western Conference. The surprise is that the Minnesota Wild are right on their heels.

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A big reason for where the Wild are today is because of the sensational play of goaltender Devan Dubnyk. Before the acquisition of Dubnyk on January 14th from the Arizona Coyotes, the Wild seemed like a team that was going nowhere. They were well out of a playoff spot and had head coach Mike Yeo yelling profanity at his team and storming off during practice.

Well, 33 Devan Dubnyk starts with a 25-6-1 record later, and the Wild not only find themselves in a playoff spot, but one point shy of the Blackhawks and third place in the Central Division.

The Wild have kept up their torrent pace, as they are currently on a four game winning streak and have won six of their last seven games. They will have a chance to increase their winning streak to five as they face the defending Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings and, in turn, a chance to surpass the Blackhawks in the Central Division standing.

At least, for the time being.

A win over the Kings will put the Wild one point ahead of the Blackhawks, but the Blackhawks will have two games in hand on the Wild.

While the Wild have continued to play some fantastic hockey and racking up the wins, it’s been more of a struggle for the Blackhawks.

The Blackhawks lost their leading scorer and star forward Patrick Kane to a broken clavicle bone in a 3-2 win over the Florida Panthers back on February 24th. At first, they didn’t seem to skip a beat without the prolific forward, but it’s seemed to have caught up with them as of late. The Blackhawks have gone 8-4-1 since losing Kane to injury, but three of those regulation losses have come in the last four games. In those four games, they’ve managed just six goals for.

While the Blackhawks have been slipping as of late and the Wild still surging, it will still be very difficult for the Wild to beat out the Blackhawks in the division. Even if the Wild win tonight against the Kings, they will still only be one point ahead while having played two more games than the Blackhawks.

Both teams have tough schedules down the stretch, but the Blackhawks still have two games against teams that are not in playoff spots. All seven of the Wild’s remaining games are against team’s that are currently in playoff spots, including an away game against the Blackhawks on April 7.

The April 7 meeting between these two teams in Chicago will most likely have big implications on where they finish in the Central Division.

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