Minnesota Wild backup goaltender Josh Harding was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis last fall. (Andy King/AP)

By Allan Muir

I’ve always thought the only honor less desirable than the Masterton Trophy was being recognized at the Academy Awards ceremony during the In Memoriam reel.

The only way to win this one is through “perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey”… with a heavy emphasis on perseverance. Translated: Your career must have been interrupted by some personal tragedy on the scale of a Lifetime Network movie of the week to qualify.

At least the stories of Sidney Crosby, Adam McQuaid and Josh Harding all have happy endings. The three were honored today as the finalists for this year’s award, as voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association.

All hockey fans know Crosby’s story: The world’s top player finally returned to the ice in full health this season after missing extensive portions of the previous two due to concussion symptoms. Performing at a level unseen in nearly two decades, Crosby was running away with the scoring title when adversity struck again. Literally. This time, he was hit in the face by a slap shot. The injury derailed his season and his Art Ross dreams, but determination to return in time for the postseason highlighted his dedication to the game.

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The Canucks can only look back and wonder what might have been had their GM been more astute. (Getty Images)

By Allan Muir

An annotated guide to this morning’s must-read hockey stories:

• A win away from hoisting the Cup two years ago, the Canucks were the first team to be eliminated this season. As the blame is being doled out, be sure to include a healthy dose for GM Mike Gillis, who dithered instead of trading Roberto Luongo time and time again.

• In the wake of their Game 4 loss to the Sharks, the Canucks grasped that the window has closed for this group of players.

• It would be a tough sell to bring back coach Alain Vigneault after the failures of the past two seasons.

• There are 100 ways to analyze Vancouver’s shocking first round ouster, but the simplest truth is that the team simply got too old to keep up in today’s game.

• The Canucks showed they still have it in the overtime loss…just not enough of it.

• This was the first sweep in franchise history for the Sharks. Now it’s time to rest up for what they hope will be a deep playoff run.

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Jason Zucker (16) scored from a sharp angle in overtime to pull Minnesota within one game of Chicago. (Getty Images)

By Brian Cazeneuve

It’s been a rough stretch for Minnesota Wild goaltenders. Before Game 1 in Chicago, starter Niklas Backstrom suffered a lower body injury that led coach Mike Yeo to call on backup Josh Harding, who had spent two months on injured reserve during the regular season while adjusting to medication for multiple sclerosis. Harding had only played five games, posting modest numbers (1-1-0, .863, 3.24), but he performed heroically that night, stopping 35-of-37 shots in a 2-1 loss to the Blackhawks. The Wild could have won that one if  winger Jason Zucker’s shot hadn’t hit the crossbar in overtime.

On Sunday, fortune finally smiled on Harding (and Zucker), though at first it looked like more bad breaks were in store. Harding, who had been strafed by 47 shots in Minnesota’s 5-2 loss in Game 2, took a puck to the shoulder during warmups and left his crease for a time, but he was able to start and he played well. This time, the outcome was more fortunate as Minnesota got back into the series with a 3-2 win thanks to Zucker’s clutch goal in OT.

Some thoughts and observations on the game: Read More…

Chicago goalie Corey Crawford stood firm against Zach Parise and the Wild in Game 2. (Warren Wimmer/Icon SMI)

By Allan Muir

The Chicago Blackhawks needed more than a win against the Minnesota Wild Friday night. They needed to prove, to themselves if no one else, that they could correct the mistakes that permeated their play in the series opener.

Chances are they’re feeling a lot better after Game 2.

The Hawks fired 77 shots toward Wild goalie Josh Harding. They pursued the puck relentlessly. They took full advantage of their speed and creativity. And they made Minnesota’s top players look like overmatched Pee Wees in a decisive 5-2 win.

Here are four key takeaways from the game:

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Fourth-liner Bryan Bickell showed just how deep the Blackhawks are in Game 1. (Bill Smith/NHLI via Getty Images)

By Allan Muir

An annotated guide to this morning’s must-read hockey stories:

• The Blackhawks haven’t faced much adversity this season, but managed to face it down in the opener of their series against the Wild. Hey, if the biggest test they’ve faced this season is their own complacency, that’s saying something, right?

• OT hero Bryan Bickell’s game-winner enhanced his reputation as someone who comes to play in the postseason.

• Josh Harding goes into the books as the loser of Game 1, but Jim Souhan calls Minnesota’s emergency starter “the most remarkable player on the ice.” Our own Stu Hackel wrote about Harding when the goalie was first diagnosed with MS.

• Nine of Minnesota’s players made their NHL postseason debuts in the game last night, including goal scorer Cal Clutterbuck. From this seat, Charlie Coyle looked good…but then, he looks pretty good most nights, doesn’t he?

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