The NHL playoffs are all set after an intense and lockout-shortened regular season and a number of teams have the chance to take the Stanley Cup, including the Chicago Blackhawks, who have the best record and the number one seed in the Western conference as the postseason begins on Tuesday night.
The Detroit Red Wings will start their series against the number two Anaheim Ducks after making a strong push to make the playoffs over the Blue Jackets and the other matchup on Tuesday will be the LA Kings and the St. Louis Blues, who were defeated by the Kings last season on their way to the finals.
The Blackhawks got off to an historic start this season and the team is hoping to repeat their Stanley Cup win from a few seasons ago and things start up on Tuesday night as Patrick Kane and company takes on the Wild in Chicago. The team will be without Ray Emery for the game, but Corey Crawford has been just as good this season, as the team has allowed the least amount of goals in the league and will try to take that into the postseason.
The Wild had to fight their way into the final spot after battling with the Red Wings and the blue Jackets, making it the first postseason appearance in five years and Ryan Suter and Zach Parise will be anticipating the matchup after signing deals in the offseason for 13-years and nearly $100 million. The franchise had hoped the two would lead the team to the playoffs and with a win on Saturday against Colorado, the team clinched.
The Blackhawks have been excellent at home while losing only three times and winning 18 games in regulation, while the Wild have gone just 12-11-1 on the road as the playoffs start. Chicago is ranked second in goals scored and first in goals against and is third in penalty kill percentage. The Wild are ranked 22nd in scoring and 15th in goals against and are in the middle of the pack on special teams.
