ST. PAUL, Minn. -- It took the Wild 161 minutes and 41 seconds to grab their first lead of the series. But once they did, they would not let go. The Wild defeated the Blackhawks 4-0 in Game 3 of their series at XCel Energy Center on Tuesday, shortening the Hawks lead in the series to 2-1. Their victory ensures there will be a Game 5 at the United Center on Sunday. The hawks defeat is their ninth consecutive loss on the first road game of a playoff series, a streak that dates back to 2010. With the teams even 0-0 after the first period, the Wild struck early in the third period. Winger Justin Fontaine slid a pretty pass from the right win across the ice to a streaking Erik Haula, who pushed the puck past Corey Crawford's stick side for a 1-0 lead. The goal came at 1:41 in the third period. At 4:18, the Wild struck again shortly after a faceoff at center ice, with Mikael Granlund finishing off a sequence of swift puck movement by beating an out-of-position Crawford for a 2-0 lead. On a late power play, Zach Parise scored his first goal of the series to make it 3-0 at 17:25. Granlund added an empty netter to mzke the final tally at 18:43. Coming into the game, Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville has again tinkered with his lineup. After playing in Game 2, both defenseman Nick Leddy and winger Jeremy Morin are scratches. Leddy was benched in the third period of Game 2 and will stay in the doghouse through at least Tuesday. Sheldon Brookbank will get the nod over Leddy on defense. Brookbank filled in for Brent Seabrook when Seabrook sat three games against the Blues for his hard hit on Blues centerDavid Backes. Brandon Bollig is back in the lineup after a one-game exile, likely a wake-up call from Quenneville. Krist Versteeg stays in the lineup, as does Joakim Nordstrom. For the Wild, defenseman Keith Ballard is playing for the first time since March 17 while Nate Prosser is a scratch.
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Posted by Unknown on Tuesday, May 6, 2014 - Rating: 4.5
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