Goaltender Niklas Backstrom had a very good series for the 4th-seeded ’07-’08 Wild and it started with a 41-save shutout performance in Game 1. Marian Gaborik potted a hat trick and added an assist while Mikko Koivu totaled a goal and two assists as the ’07-’08 Wild won 4-0. The ’07-’08 Wild then took a 2-0 lead into the second, but the top-seeded ’02-’03 Wild tied the game in the second and then took a 3-2 lead early into the third thanks to a goal from defenseman Andrei Zyuzin. Zyuzin then added an empty-netter as the ’02-’03 Wild tied the series up 2-2. Goaltender Dwayne Roloson notched a shutout of his own in Game 3 for the ’02-’03 Wild as he stopped all 28 shots he saw. Cliff Ronning and Pascal Dupuis were the only goal scorers as the ’02-’03 Wild won 2-0.

The ’07-’08 Wild rebounded from the shutout with a 3-2 win in double overtime in Game 4. Dupuis was whistled for interference just over a minute into the second overtime to put the ’02-’03 Wild shorthanded. Then, Brian Rolston scored just 21 seconds into the PP to win it for the ’07-’08 Wild. Rolston actually had a penalty shot opportunity in the first period that was denied by Roloson. In Game 5, the ’07-’08 Wild trailed 1-0 in the third, but a goal each from Gaborik and Mark Parrish turned the table and they took it 2-1. Then, Stephane Veilleux played the role of hero in Game 6 as he scored the overtime winner for the ’07-’08 Wild to send them to the Final.

GAME 1:

GAME SUMMARY:  ’07-’08 MIN – 4   ’02-’03 MIN – 0   (1-0 ’07-’08 MIN)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: G – Niklas Backstrom (’07-’08 MIN) – W   0.00 GAA   1.000 SV% (41 SV’s)

2nd Star: RW – Marian Gaborik (’07-’08 MIN) – 3 G   1 A   4 P   +4   12 S

3rd Star: C – Mikko Koivu (’07-’08 MIN) – 1 G   2 A   3 P   +4   3 S

GAME 2:

GAME SUMMARY:  ’02-’03 MIN – 4   ’07-’08 MIN – 2   (1-1)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: D – Andrei Zyuzin (’02-’03 MIN) – 2 G   0 A   2 P   +2   6 S

2nd Star: G – Niklas Backstrom (’07-’08 MIN) – L   3.00 GAA   .942 SV% (49 SV’s)

3rd Star: RW – Pascal Dupuis (’02-’03 MIN) – 0 G   2 A   2 P   +2   6 S

GAME 3:

GAME SUMMARY:  ’02-’03 MIN – 2   ’07-’08 MIN – 0   (2-1 ’02-’03 MIN)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: G – Dwayne Roloson (’02-’03 MIN) – W   0.00 GAA   1.000 SV% (28 SV’s)

2nd Star: C – Cliff Ronning (’02-’03 MIN) – 1 G   1 A   2 P   +2   5 S

3rd Star: RW – Pascal Dupuis (’02-’03 MIN) – 1 G   1 A   2 P   +2   6 S   2 PIM

GAME 4:

GAME SUMMARY:  ’07-’08 MIN – 3   ’02-’03 MIN – 2   (OT)   (2-2)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: D – Brent Burns (’07-’08 MIN) – 1 G   1 A   2 P   +2   7 S

2nd Star: G – Dwayne Roloson (’02-’03 MIN) – OTL   3.00 GAA   .933 SV% (42 SV’s)

3rd Star: C – Dominic Moore (’07-’08 MIN) – 1 G   1 A   2 P   +1   1 S

GAME 5:

GAME SUMMARY:  ’07-’08 MIN – 2   ’02-’03 MIN – 1   (3-2 ’07-’08 MIN)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: G – Niklas Backstrom (’07-’08 MIN) – W   1.00 GAA   .974 SV% (38 SV’s)

2nd Star: RW – Marian Gaborik (’07-’08 MIN) – 1 G   0 A   1 P   +1   6 S   2 PIM

3rd Star: RW – Mark Parrish (’07-’08 MIN) – 1 G   0 A   1 P   +1   1 S

GAME 6:

GAME SUMMARY:  ’07-’08 MIN – 3   ’02-’03 MIN – 2   (OT)   (4-2 ’07-’08 MIN)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: G – Niklas Backstrom (’07-’08 MIN) – W   2.00 GAA   .955 SV% (42 SV’s)

2nd Star: G – Dwayne Roloson (’02-’03 MIN) – OTL   3.00 GAA   .953 SV% (61 SV’s)

3rd Star: C – Wes Walz (’02-’03 MIN) – 1 G   1 A   2 P   +2   4 S   2 PIM

Up next is a 3-7 matchup in the other Semifinal between the ’14-’15 Wild and the ’08-’09 Wild!