Cal Clutterbuck's tying tip-in with 3:12 left in regulation and Devin Setoguchi's shootout goal gave the Minnesota Wild a 2-1 victory over Chicago on Thursday, and Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville lamented afterward a performance by his team he called "too casual."
"We didn't have any pace. I thought we got away from the intensity of being on the power play and looking for an easier look as opposed to the intensity that's needed to just sustain the momentum of our game," Quenneville said.
Setoguchi's glove-side shot was the only one that went in during the skills contest, the 20th this season by the Wild to tie the NHL record. After a goal by Jamal Mayers gave the Blackhawks an early lead midway through the first period, Josh Harding was impenetrable, finishing with 22 saves.
"When the guys see him going like that, it certainly raises their game," Minnesota coach Mike Yeo said.
The Hawks had only two shots on goal over the last 25 minutes of the game: one each in the third and overtime. Their struggling special teams didn't help. The Wild gave them four power plays over the first two periods, including a five-minute man-advantage situation, but the Blackhawks didn't score on any of those. Then their penalty kill let in a late goal.
"It's a big part of the game. Everyone knows that. Hopefully we can figure it out before the playoffs and at least get some chances and shots and momentum," right wing Patrick Kane said.
Bryan Bickell's tip-in of a blue line slap shot by Niklas Hjalmarsson would've given the Blackhawks a two-goal lead midway through the third period, but the score was waved off after a video review because Bickell's stick was too high. Quenneville, his arms folded across his suit jacket, just shook his head on the bench after hearing the call.
That became more critical when defenseman Marco Scandella, who set a Wild franchise record with 35 minutes, 32 seconds of ice time, sent a slap shot toward Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford. With Clutterbuck tangling for position with Duncan Keith, the puck glanced off Clutterbuck and in to tie the game. Entering the game, the Blackhawks were 23rd on the power play and 28th on the penalty kill in the league.
"We want to go into the playoffs feeling good about ourselves and playing the right way with good habits," Keith said.
They'll have to start away from home. Nashville has 102 points and Detroit has 101 points, but the Blackhawks (99 points) can still finish fifth in the Western Conference by beating the Red Wings (101 points) on Saturday.
An extra road game shouldn't be so bad for the Blackhawks, who are 5-1-2 in their past eight games away from home. And if they lose to the Red Wings and finish sixth, well, that means a first-round matchup against a potentially weaker Pacific Division winner than one of their rivals in the packed, stacked Central Division.
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