Lou Nanne doesn’t underestimate the importance of tonight’s second game between the Wild and Blackhawks in Chicago. “I think it’s maybe the biggest game of the series,” he told Sports Headliners.
There are potentially six games left in the best of seven Stanley Cup playoff series but both teams will answer questions after tonight. The Blackhawks, the No. 1 seed in the NHL’s Western Conference, had to work hard to win in overtime on Tuesday night in Chicago. With the series moving to Minnesota next week for games three and four, will the Blackhawks feel more or less pressure tonight holding a 1-0 series lead?
The Wild stumbled late in the season, needing a last game win in Colorado to earn the No. 8 spot in the playoff seeding. Did the ultra competitive 2-1 loss on Tuesday help or hurt the Wild’s chances to win tonight? Did the result leave the Blackhawks confident or wondering if they might blow this series to the bottom seeded team that showed defense and energy beyond what they have expected?
Nanne is hoping for a seven game series but a loss tonight will have him thinking about a Chicago sweep, or eliminating Minnesota in five games. “I am worried about that,” he said.
Nanne’s NHL experiences included playing, coaching and working in the front office for the North Stars. He thinks Wild coach Mike Yeo told his team to play cautiously, hoping to avoid mistakes against the talented Blackhawks before the last game. Nanne said if he were coaching he would take the same approach with the Wild tonight.
“I am sure he told them to play very tight, not open it up,” Nanne said. “Try and frustrate the Blackhawks and hope to get opportunities on their turnovers…to score on the occasional chance you might get.”
Nanne doesn’t minimize the possibility of a Wild win this evening. “They proved they could play with Chicago, beat Chicago,” he said.
If the Wild don’t win tonight, Nanne won’t be receptive to suggestions the players choked. After Minnesota lost 6-1 last Friday night at home to the Oilers in a game that had mega playoff pressure, there was speculation the Wild choked.
“I think that’s ridiculous,” Nanne said. “Those statements are usually made by people who have never played sports.”
The next night the Wild met the challenge of qualifying for the playoffs by beating the Avalanche in Denver. “In a tougher place to play,” Nanne said.