ONE GOAL III: Blackhawks Eliminate Wild in Third Straight Postseason

If the cauldron of the Stanley Cup Playoffs is where rivalries are forged, it's safe to say that the Blackhawks and the Minnesota Wild have become true antagonists after clashing in the playoffs for three straight years. One might argue that since Chicago has won all three matchups, the conflict is more domination than conflict. After all, this is the official tally so far in the annual reunion of quarreling Midwestern cousins, and you are not listening to a broken record.

2013: Chicago won 4-1 in the Conference Quarterfinals.

2014: Chicago won 4-2 in the Second Round.

2015: Chicago won 4-0, again in the Second Round.

However, at the beginning of May, many thought this could be Minnesota's year to end their run of misery against the Blackhawks. The Wild had just finished ousting division winner St. Louis in six triumphant games, and they were blessed with depth throughout the lineup. Most importantly, their precarious situation in net was finally resolved, as the acquisition of 2015 Vezina Trophy finalist Devan Dubnyk in January proved to be the most valuable in-season deal.

The Blackhawks would have to be at their best to get past a seasoned and vengeful Wild squad, and they came out roaring in Game 1, as Brandon Saad scored on the first shot of the series after victimizing star defenseman Ryan Suter with an outside move. The Blackhawks tacked on two more goals in the first period, but the visitors stormed back with a three-goal flurry of their own in the middle frame. Although it seemed as if the Wild had enough momentum to overpower the Blackhawks, a fluttering shot by rookie Teuvo Teravainen -- playing for the first time since Game 2 of the first round -- fooled Dubnyk and gave the home side a 4-3 lead that would not be vanquished.

Game 2 began as a much tighter affair, remaining scoreless through the halfway point before Marian Hossa robbed Suter in the neutral zone and fed Toews for the opening tally while shorthanded. Patrick Kane added a pair of goals, and Corey Crawford made 30 saves on 31 shots, including several important stops after having his mask broken by a high blast. The win marked Chicago's eighth consecutive home playoff victory over Minnesota, and the team headed to the Twin Cities full of confidence.

Every playoff series is different: Some require a true team effort, while others are dominated thoroughly by a couple of names. This belonged to the latter category, showcasing the mesmerizing talents of Kane and Crawford's return to form after a shaky Nashville series. The two combined to give the Blackhawks a 1-0 win in Game 3 and a 3-0 stranglehold on the series, as Kane scored in his fourth straight game and Crawford made 30 saves against a visibly frustrated Wild team.

Afterward, Minnesota Head Coach Mike Yeo summarized his team's inability to beat Crawford: "He's a star against us. He's Brodeur, he's Roy, he's everybody. We've got to find a way to solve that."

They had one last chance to do so in Game 4, but as the Blackhawks have done so often lately to so many aggrieved opponents, they finished the series off in style, building a 4-1 lead as Kane extended his goal streak to five games. Crawford held strong with 34 saves, withstanding a late charge from the hosts to emerge with a 4-3 win. Improbably, Kane's post-series comments included the suggestion that "there are some areas that I can try to improve a little bit."

Not much could temper the accomplishment of completing the sweep over a divisional rival, but the long-term loss of defenseman Michal Rozsival to a broken ankle would prove to be a major challenge for Chicago in the next two rounds.