The Chicago Blackhawks and Minnesota Wild will take to the ice tonight in Game 4 of their NHL Playoffs series. The game is scheduled for an 8:00 p.m. start time and it will be televised nationally on NBC Sports Network. Currently the betting odds for the game have the Wild favored to stay alive in the series with a win.

Minnesota is up against the wall in this game, just like the Montreal Canadiens in the Eastern Conference. A victory here tonight for the Chicago Blackhawks would put them into the Western Conference finals for the third straight post season and they'd await the other second round series between the Anaheim Ducks and Calgary Flames. 

Patrick Kane looks to continue playing well to lead the Blackhawks, Minnesota has had no answer for him in these three games. Kane has four goals in the three games and has nine shots on goal in that same time. He's clearly been the best player on the ice and continues to give Chicago an advantage. 

Corey Crawford made 30 saves and played very well in Game 3, if the Blackhawks get the same type of effort again tonight they're going to be advancing to the finals. Minnesota has actually gotten some nice play from their goaltender as well. Devan Dubnyk had a career-best .936 save percentage during the regular season, but only has saved a little over 91 percent of the shots he has faced in the post season. Dubnyk has to have another monumental game tonight in order for the Wild to have a shot.

Chicago will certainly bring an A-plus effort in this game tonight with a chance to advance in the post season. It won't be easy to knock out the Wild for good, though. Look for Minnesota to have a solid games on both ends of the floor and find a way to grind out a close win.

Free Pick: Minnesota

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