Checking in with Mike Doyle: Wild v Blackhawks preview
May 01, 2015
Mike Doyle is the official reporter for the Minnesota Wild, and the writer of the team's "View from the Lighthouse" blog. He stopped in to The Current's Morning Show to talk about the Wild's playoff run with Jill Riley and Jim McGuinn.
The Minnesota Wild have advanced to the second round of the NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs and are set to face the Chicago Blackhawks in the Western Conference semifinals. Game 1 faces off at 8:30 tonight in Chicago. "It is going to be one of those classic matchups," Doyle says.
The Wild defeated the St. Louis Blues in the first round, but "The Wild have run up against a juggernaut team in the Blackhawks," Doyle explains, "who won the Stanley Cup in 2013 and then last season, made it to the Conference finals, falling to the L.A. Kings, who eventually won the Cup."
The Blackhawk's roster includes two of the top forwards in the NHL — Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane — as well as Duncan Keith, winner of last year's Norris Trophy as the league's best defenseman.
Although the Blackhawks are clearly formidable opponents, Doyle says the Wild have gained a lot of confidence, thanks to such factors as Devan Dubnyk's consistent performance in goal, the experience gained by younger players and the disciplined systems imbued in the players by coach Mike Yeo.
Doyle expects an exciting series. "It's going to be one of those interesting chess battles where you get two contrasting styles that make for interesting hockey," he says.
Listen to the complete interview to hear the full conversation with Mike Doyle.
Tonight's game begins at 8:30, and Game 2 is scheduled for Sunday; both are at United Center in Chicago. Games 3 and 4 return the series to Minnesota, scheduled for next Tuesday and Thursday at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.