Photo by - Aj Mansour (KFAN)

By: Aj Mansour | KFAN.com
@AjKFAN

UPDATE: Pominville has been ruled out of tonight's game, according to Michael Russo at the Star Tribune:

Yeo rules out Pominville #mnwild

— Michael Russo (@Russostrib) April 30, 2013

Yeo says Pominville not "quite ready." I do hear he was supposed to play but woke up & not feeling well. Missed last 2 games (head) #mnwild

— Michael Russo (@Russostrib) April 30, 2013

Minneapolis, MN - It's been exactly seven days since Minnesota Wild forward Jason Pominville left the ice under the assistance of the team's trainer. Pominville, the recipient of a cheap-shot elbow from LA Kings forward Dustin Brown, missed the team's final two regular season games with an undisclosed "upper body injury" putting his status for the Wild's first round matchup against Chicago up in the air.

When the team took to the ice Monday morning at Xcel Energy Center before heading to the Windy City, Pominville was indeed present and participating at what appeared to be full speed with his teammates.

"He looked good in practice today," Wild head coach Mike Yeo said. "He's a big part of our team in a lot of areas. Obviously the offensive threat that he is, he's a smart player, plays in all situations for us. As much as anything else the experience that he has in the playoffs and his leadership."

Since being traded to the Wild just before the trade deadline on April 3rd, Pominville has netted four goals and chipped in with five assists. It didn't take much for Pominville to jump into the Wild system and start making his presence felt.

Pominville jumped right back into his familiar position on a line with Kyle Brodziak and Pierre-Marc Bouchard Monday morning and hopes to fill that same role Tuesday night versus the Blackhawks.

"It's good to see him back out there," Wild forward Zach Parise said Monday. "That line was playing so well with him, Brodziak and Bouchard before Pommer got hurt. That's what you need, you need every line to be playing well. There's not a year that goes by that you don't see a third line, a fourth line scoring big goals for teams [in the playoffs]. We need all the balance scoring that we can get [against Chicago]."

As it stands now, Pominville remains a game-time decision. The Wild hopped on a plane shortly after practice to head to Chicago where Mike Yeo and his coaching staff will have a tough decision to make regarding Pominville's status. Common knowledge says that if he's healthy enough, he'll be out there. Frankly, if the Wild expect to compete against the league's best team, they will need a guy like Pominville to even out the offensive attack.

By: Aj Mansour | KFAN.com
@AjKFAN

The playoff schedule is set for the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs and the Minnesota Wild will be on the road to face the Chicago Blackhawks for Game 1 on Tuesday, April 30th. Check out the full schedule for the first round below...

Game 1: Wild @ Blackhawks - Tuesday, April 30th at 7pm

Game 2: Wild @ Blackhawks - Friday, May 3rd at 8:30pm

Game 3: Wild vs Blackhawks - Sunday, May 5th at 2pm

Game 4: Wild vs Blackhawks - Tuesday, May 7th at 8:30pm

Game 5: TBD if necessary at Chicago

Game 6: TBD if necessary at Minnesota

Game 7: TBD if necessary at Chicago

All games can be heard on 100.3FM KFAN and at KFAN.com

By Ryan Donaldson

The Minnesota Wild found themselves in a “win and in” situation in the final regualar season game of this 2013 truncated season. The squad, coming off their worst defeat of the season Friday night, knew a win against the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center in Denver would seal their right to fight for the Stanley Cup in the NHL playoffs.

The Wild’s Captain Mikko Koivu knew it was essential to set the tone early and get the puck on the net. His shot created a rebound that Zach Parise buried to give Minnesota the lead with 13 minutes to play in the opening period.

The Wild were playing extremely hard on both end of the ice, it wasn’t until the 10:19 mark of the first period that Colorado was able to muster up their first shot.

Cullen and Clutterbuck were given gift-wrapped scoring chances after each getting breakways, but were denied each try. Despite having all of the game’s momentum and 15 shots in the period, Colorado’s O’Reilly tied it 1-1 after winning a battle for the puck in the corner and shelfing it over the shoulder of Backstrom.

The Wild caught a big break to open up play in the second frame. After Backstrom seemingly allowed in a second and go-ahead goal for the Avalanche, the play was reviewed and disallowed after it was determined the puck was kicked into the net.

It wasn’t the only break they would see during the second period, a penalty going against Colorado set up a powerplay and the Wild knew they had to convert on the man-up chance. Devin Setoguchi’s slap shot found the back of the net during the five on four put Minnesota up 2-1 heading into the final 20 minutes of regulation.

The Wild and Avalanche exchanged power play opportunities to open up play in the third. Backstrom’s crucial five saves on the penalty kill kept the game at a 2-1 score.  Colorado’s penalty required surviving :55 seconds of 5 on 3 play, but the Wild could not add a goal to cushion their one goal lead.

Nicklas Backstrom was in fine form with the game on the line, making consecutive crucial saves late in the game to hang onto a one goal lead.

Colorado pulled their goalie with 1:39 to play, and peppered an impenetrable Niklas Backstrom trying to pull even. However as time expired, Bouchard and the Wild snuck in the third and final goal with the wide open net and the 3-1 victory over the Avalanche sending Minnesota back to the Stanley Cup Playoffs!

Mikko Koivu assisted on Parise’s goal to start the scoring Saturday night, “We knew we needed a good start to build that confidence back up again. Backstrom was big at the end there. Great effort all around for 60 minutes from the guys.” The Captain added, “We stuck together, we handled up's and down's.  Now we start again. The playoffs are a whole new season.” The Wild are in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2008, and will face the Chicago Blackhawks beginning next week!