Josh Harding News

Backstrom, who can become an unrestricted free agent this summer, is expected to be fully recovered in time for the beginning of the 2013-14. The 35-year-old Finn was injured during pregame warmups before Minnesota's playoff opener in Chicago.

Depending on your point of view, the Minnesota Wild had a season that either met or surpassed expectations.

The team announced that Backstrom's operation went as planned on Thursday morning in Philadelphia.

The Minnesota Wild head into the summer with a lot of questions to answer, as they reached the playoff but made an early exit despite making some big offseason deals and an important trade deadline acquisition.

On the final night of the regular season, it fell nicely for the Hawks as they received Minnesota, rather than stronger clubs Detroit or Columbus.

This is Michael Russo's 18th year covering the National Hockey League. He's covered the Minnesota Wild for the Star Tribune since 2005 following 10 years of covering the Florida Panthers for the Sun-Sentinel. Michael uses "Russo's Rants" to feed a wide-ranging hockey-centric discussion with readers, and can be heard weekly on KFAN radio and seen ... (more)

Chicago Blackhawks' Marian Hossa, right, celebrates after scoring his second goal as Minnesota Wild goalie Josh Harding and Jared Spurgeon react during the second period of Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Chicago, Thursday, May 9, 2013.

There were a lot of people who gave the Minnesota Wild a chance against the Chicago Blackhawks during their first-round NHL playoff series.

May 9, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Minnesota Wild goalie Darcy Kuemper against the Chicago Blackhawks during the third period in game five of the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the United Center.

Thursday was turning into Friday as Wild forward Zach Parise finally stood up from his stall in the visitors' locker room at the United Center in Chicago, just a stone's throw from the Blackhawks' muted celebration down the hall.

Ding, ding, ding! Time's up! The Wild's search for an identity now must carry over to the 2013-14 NHL season.

This is Michael Russo's 18th year covering the National Hockey League. He's covered the Minnesota Wild for the Star Tribune since 2005 following 10 years of covering the Florida Panthers for the Sun-Sentinel. Michael uses "Russo's Rants" to feed a wide-ranging hockey-centric discussion with readers, and can be heard weekly on KFAN radio and seen ... (more)

Marian Hossa scored twice to back a strong effort by goalie Corey Crawford, and the Chicago Blackhawks beat the Minnesota Wild 5-1 on Thursday night to win their first-round playoff series 4-1. Chicago is moving on in the postseason for the first time since the championship run in 2010 and will face either San Jose or Detroit if the Red Wings ... (more)

Redemption doesn't come with expected wins over overmatched teams with two injured goaltenders.

Healthier food options are on and pudding is off the table at Feilding High School's boarding house, as Manawatu boarding schools attempt to close the book on Dickensian bad buffet stereotypes.

Evidently being the best team in hockey all season long hasn't prepared the Chicago Blackhawks for the playoffs to the liking of captain Jonathan Toews .

Head Coach Mike Yeo announced after Thursday's morning skate that Josh Harding will start in tonight's make-or-break game 5 against the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Chicago Blackhawks are back in the United Center for Game 5 of their Western Conference quarterfinal against the Minnesota The 'Hawks have a 3-1 lead over Minnesota and are coming off of a 3-0 blanking of the Wild in Game 4. Here are five questions that will be answered over the course of what could be a close-out contest.

Apr 30, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Minnesota Wild goalie Josh Harding reaches for the puck in front of Chicago Blackhawks right wing Marian Hossa during the third period in game one of the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs at the United Center.

The Minnesota Wild take on the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 4 of their Western Conference quarterfinal game of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs at Xcel Energy Center in St.