By Tony Abbott -
One of the biggest problems the Wild have are when they are matched up against bigger teams. Teams like St. Louis, Anaheim, and Los Angeles come to mind. The Wild have been at their worst against teams with the size to impose their will on the guys in Iron Range Red.
Looking back at the last game the two teams played, the Wild put a lineup on the ice that averaged out as 0.16 inches shorter, and 0.67 pounds heavier than the players on the Blackhawks' side.
So, they're roughly equivalent in size. That's a good thing, right?
Yes and no. It's a good thing that, on paper, the Wild aren't playing a team that should be able to push them around like rag dolls. But when you look at specific match-ups, you may find that the comparative size numbers may be a bit misleading. For the most striking example, please compare the sizes of the top-3 defensemen in terms of Time on Ice with each team:
Minnesota:
Ryan Suter (27:17): 6'1"; 198 lbs.
Chicago:
However, size won't be the determining factor in this matchup, as the Blackhawks have much more going for them than brawn. With forwards like Toews, Kane, Hossa, Sharp, and Saad, the Blackhawks possess a tremendous amount of skill that would be able to take down a team of Goliaths.
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