Chicago, IL (SportsNetwork.com) - Mikael Granlund and Jason Zucker scored less than four minutes apart in the third period, and Devan Dubnyk did the rest in carrying the Minnesota Wild to a postseason berth with a 2-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday.
The Wild were under .500 (18-19-5) and far out of playoff contention when they traded for Dubnyk on Jan. 14, and the former Coyotes goaltender has been nothing short of spectacular in turning Minnesota's season around.
Dubnyk has posted a 27-8-0 record since the deal, and his latest 32-save gem helped snap the Wild's three-game slide.
"We worked and did a lot of good things to put ourselves in this spot," Dubnyk said. "It's important to get in, but we're looking to do something more special this year."
Corey Crawford stopped 28 shots for the playoff-bound Blackhawks, whose second straight loss stymied their quest for a Central Division title. They sit three points behind the Blues and two behind the second-place Predators.
"We need to play playoff hockey these next couple of games," Blackhawks forward Bryan Bickell said.
Bickell's goal with 1:48 remaining in regulation spoiled Dubnyk's shutout bid and cut Chicago's deficit in half. Chicago had pulled Crawford just before the goal and kept him on the bench the rest of the way, but Minnesota held on to clinch a spot in the postseason.
The outcome also extended the Wild's road winning streak to 11.
Granlund scored off a long rebound at the 9:30 mark of the third period to break a scoreless tie, and Chris Stewart set up Zucker, who playing in his first game since early February, with the eventual game-winner with 6:46 to play.
Game Notes
Chicago finished with a 24-12-5 record at home this season ... Zucker missed 26 games after undergoing surgery to repair a fractured clavicle on Feb. 12 ... Chicago won the season series 3-2-0 ... Chicago head coach Joel Quenneville announced before the game center Brad Richards will sit out the remainder of the regular season with an upper-body injury ... The Blackhawks were also without defenseman Kimmo Timonen (upper-body injury) ... The Wild take on Predators and Blues, while the Blackhawks visit the Blues and Avalanche to close their respective regular season slates.
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