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Minnesota def. Colorado 4-3

Both the Wild and Blackhawks closed out their first-round series with emphatic performances.

Minnesota trailed the Avalanche the entire series. After going down 2-0 and 3-2 in the series, they didn't falter on home ice, taking care of business by dominating Game 6 in a 5-2 victory before the pivotal Game 7.

The Avalanche's Erik Johnson scored the go-ahead goal with just over eight minutes remaining in the third period, marking Colorado's fourth lead of the night. But Minnesota wouldn't be deterred and Jared Spurgeon's wrist shot knotted it up again at 4-4 with just over 3 minutes to play in regulation.

Starting goaltender Darcy Kuemper left the game after giving up the fourth goal with an undisclosed injury. Veteran Ilya Bryzgalov entered in relief and made one save to earn the victory.

The never-give-up mantra worked its magic once more for the Wild, who never led in the 5-4 overtime victory until Nino Niederreiter's game-winning goal beat Semyon Varlamov's glove early in the extra period. It was Niederreiter's second goal of the night and the series.

Winger Zach Parise is tied for first among all skaters this postseason in points with 10 and shared the team-high in goals during the first round with three. The Wild won two of the four overtime games they played in the series.

Chicago def. St. Louis 4-2

Perhaps drawing strength in adversity from their 2013 second round series against the Detroit Red Wings, the Blackhawks won four straight against St. Louis to send their rivals packing, after starting in an 0-2 hole.

Chicago's resurgence seemingly came after Brent Seabrook was suspended three games for a questionable hit on Blues captain David Backes, forcing the latter to miss Games 3 and 4.

Captain Jonathan Toews scored the game-winning goal in Games 3, 5 and 6, while Corey Crawford turned his series around—posting a goals-against average of 1.50 and a save percentage of .095% in the four victories—after giving up eight goals in the first two games.

The Blackhawks made a statement in Game 6, dominating the Blues in the third period of what had been a 1-1 contest to win 5-1 behind goals from Toews, Patrick Sharp, Andrew Shaw and Duncan Keith.

The last two times that the Blackhawks have made it out of the first round, in 2010 and 2013 respectively, they've gone on to win the Stanley Cup. Chicago will be well-rested heading into Game 1 of the second round, as they've been off for four days.

Toews and Keith lead the team with seven points apiece, while Seabrook has tallied six—including two goals—despite playing in just three games as a result of his suspension.