The series starting with the two teams combining for four goals in the first period of Game 1. The 7th-seeded ’08-’09 Wild held a 3-1 lead after one period and held on for a 4-2 win. Mikko Koivu began what would be a very good series for him by tallying three assists in the opening game. In Game 2, the 2nd-seeded ’13-’14 Wild tied the game in the final minutes thanks to a goal from defenseman Justin Fontaine. Then, Zach Parise won it in overtime for the ’13-’14 Wild to tie the series up. Goaltender Niklas Backstrom got the first of his two shutouts for the ’08-’09 Wild in Game 3. He pitched a 35-save shutout performance as Koivu scored one goal and assisted on another in a 2-0 win.

Just like after Game 1, the ’13-’14 Wild responded with a win in Game 4 after a loss. Goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov stopped 48 of 49 as the ’13-’14 Wild won 4-1. Koivu notched yet another multi-point game as he tallied two more assists, except for the ’13-’14 Wild this time. Defenseman Jared Spurgeon and forwards Matt Moulson and Nino Niederreiter also posted multi-point games in the win. Then, thanks to two goals in the third, the ’08-’09 Wild took Game 5 by a score of 3-1. Koivu posted a goal and an assist in the win as Backstrom stopped 41 of 42. Backstrom then stopped all 24 shots he saw in Game 6 to post his second and final shutout of the series in the series clincher. Antti Miettinen and defenseman Marek Zidlicky were the only goal scorers in the win.

GAME 1:

GAME SUMMARY:  ’08-’09 MIN – 4   ’13-’14 MIN – 2   (1-0 ’08-’09 MIN)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: RW – Owen Nolan (’08-’09 MIN) – 2 G   0 A   2 P   +2   2 S

2nd Star: C – Mikko Koivu (’08-’09 MIN) – 0 G   3 A   3 P   +3   6 S

3rd Star: D – Marek Zidlicky (’08-’09 MIN) – 1 G   1 A   2 P   +1   2 S

GAME 2:

GAME SUMMARY:  ’13-’14 MIN – 3   ’08-’09 MIN – 2   (OT)   (1-1)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: G – Ilya Bryzgalov (’13-’14 MIN) – W   2.00 GAA   .944 SV% (34 SV’s)

2nd Star: C – Mikko Koivu (’08-’09 MIN) – 2 G   0 A   2 P   -1   11 S

3rd Star: RW – Marian Gaborik (’08-’09 MIN) – 0 G   2 A   2 P   +1   2 S

GAME 3:

GAME SUMMARY:  ’08-’09 MIN – 2   ’13-’14 MIN – 0   (2-1 ’08-’09 MIN)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: G – Niklas Backstrom (’08-’09 MIN) – W   0.00 GAA   1.000 SV% (35 SV’s)   SO

2nd Star: C – Mikko Koivu (’08-’09 MIN) – 1 G   1 A   2 P   +2   9 S

3rd Star: G – Ilya Bryzgalov (’13-’14 MIN) – L   2.00 GAA   .944 SV% (34 SV’s)

GAME 4:

GAME SUMMARY:  ’13-’14 MIN – 4   ’08-’09 MIN – 1   (2-2)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: G – Ilya Bryzgalov (’13-’14 MIN) – W   1.00 GAA   .980 SV% (48 SV’s)

2nd Star: D – Jared Spurgeon (’13-’14 MIN) – 1 G   1 A   2 P   +3   2 S

3rd Star: LW – Matt Moulson (’13-’14 MIN) – 1 G   1 A   2 P   +2   5 S

GAME 5:

GAME SUMMARY:  ’08-’09 MIN – 3   ’13-’14 MIN – 1   (3-2 ’08-’09 MIN)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: G – Niklas Backstrom (’08-’09 MIN) – W   1.00 GAA   .976 SV% (41 SV’s)

2nd Star: G – Ilya Bryzgalov (’13-’14 MIN) – L   3.00 GAA   .933 SV% (42 SV’s)

3rd Star: C – Mikko Koivu (’08-’09 MIN) – 1 G   1 A   2 P   +1   15 S

GAME 6:

GAME SUMMARY:  ’08-’09 MIN – 2   ’13-’14 MIN – 0   (4-2 ’08-’09 MIN)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: G – Niklas Backstrom (’08-’09 MIN) – W   0.00 GAA   1.000 SV% (24 SV’s)   SO

2nd Star: G – Ilya Bryzgalov (’13-’14 MIN) – L   2.00 GAA   .947 SV% (36 SV’s)

3rd Star: D – Marek Zidlicky (’08-’09 MIN) – 1 G   0 A   1 P   +1   1 S

Up next is the 3-6 matchup between the ’14-’15 Wild and the ’12-’13 Wild!