Article: Great battle of wits; Studying the moves of Wild coach Jacques Lemaire and Vancouver's Marc Crawford is like watching a chess match, because they are two of the best in the business.(SPORTS)

Byline: Michael Rand; Staff Writer

This is why they call it a chess match.

Wild coach Jacques Lemaire and Vancouver coach Marc Crawford had all the pieces lined up at the start of the Western Conference semifinals. Both coaches knew it was up to them to move the pieces in the right direction. Both knew the board would not look nearly so serene or pristine at the finish as it did at the start.

In a hockey game, it's all about staying one step ahead of the opponent. A seven-game series, then, is like the World Chess Championships. A coach must be thinking several moves ahead, to the point where he thinks he might have a slight sliver of an ...

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