Chicago Blackhawks (1) vs. Minnesota Wild (8) NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs 2013 Western Conference: Preview, Predictions, History: Does Minnesota Have a Chance?

The President Trophy-winning Chicago Blackhawks (36-7-5) will head to the playoffs for the fifth straight year and will face-off against the Minnesota Wild (26-19-3) for the first time ever in the postseason. The Wild return to the playoffs for the first time since the 2007-08 season and were also the last team to qualify for a berth on Saturday.

These teams were well acquainted during the regular season with Minnesota becoming the first team to defeat Chicago all year; their victory came in the shootout. After that loss, the Blackhawks managed two straight wins against Minnesota.

Minnesota Wins if... Most pundits are not counting on them to win. NHL.com writes, "The Wild will have to play virtually mistake-free hockey to compete with the Blackhawks -- and even that may not be enough to win." The Wild have not been a consistent bunch all year but they do have the pieces to make it a good series. Ryan Suter is being touted as a top contender for the Norris Trophy and he will need to play to that level to help the Wild win. New acquisition Zach Parise will also need to bring the depth of experience he showcased with the Devils a year ago to help the Wild stand a chance. However, the team will rise and fall depending on how goaltender Niklas Backstrom performs. The goaltender has been shaky at times but he needs to be at the top of his game to stop a potent Chicago offense.

Chicago Wins If...The Blackhawks seem the team of destiny with the way they have played all year. The team has terrific depth at all positions but will need its goaltenders to be at the top of their respective games to have a chance at a deep run. Corey Crawford and Ray Emery have been great for this team during the regular season but they need to show that they can play at that level when it matters most.

Predictions: Does anyone really give Minnesota a chance? This writer gives them a chance to win one game, but Chicago should thoroughly dominate this series 4-1.