Mikko Koivu News

Despite making the playoffs, something the team had not done since winning the Northwest Division in 2008, a five-game exit in the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs to the President's Trophy winning Chicago Blackhawks feels unsatisfying for the Wild.

The Wild took one game, but ultimately fell to the mighty Blackhawks, 4-1, in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Minnesota Wild put together a solid 2013 season, but had to fight their way into the playoffs and ultimately came up short against the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round.

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Making the playoffs for the first time in five years should count as progress.

The last time the Minnesota Wild finished in the top eight of the Western Conference it won the Northwest Division in 2008.

Eliminated from the playoffs and preparing for summer vacation, the Wild fekt comfortable lifting the veil of secrecy regarding injuries -- although their two goaltenders remained cagey about their maladies.

Zach Parise, checked by Chicago's Michal Rozsival during the third period Thursday, scored only one goal in five playoff games.

PHT's Morning Skate takes a look around the world of hockey to see what's happening and what we'll be talking about around the NHL world and beyond.

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)

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

Patrick Sharp celebrated with teammate Marian Hossa as the Blackhawks scored in the first period against the Wild on Tuesday night.

Craig Leipold had been approved as the new majority owner of the Wild in April 2008.

The Minnesota Wild boarded a chartered aircraft for a relatively quick flight to Chicago Midway International Airport on Wednesday afternoon.

May 5, 2013; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Chicago Blackhawks forward Bryan Bickell shoots on Minnesota Wild goalie Josh Harding during the third period in game three of the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs at Xcel Energy Center.

When there's a game ahead, don't talk to Mikko Koivu about a previous game well played by the Wild.

Josh Harding is expected to make his fourth consecutive start in net for the Wild.

Inside the sanctuary of the locker room, you have your teammates, and Jason Zucker, Charlie Coyle and Jonas Brodin are fortunate to have personal mentors.

Yakupov, who finished the season on a tear, scored 17 goals and 14 assists in 48 games, but that wasn't good enough for the hockey writers, who favoured Florida's Jonathan Huberdeau, 14 goals and 17 assists in 48 games, while playing more than two minutes per game more than Yakupov, Chicago's Brandon Saad, who had 27 points in 46 games ,and ... (more)

There will be no first-round sweep for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jason Zucker's overtime goal gave the Minnesota Wild their first victory of the series.