Ticket prices to rise by average of 16% next season

The Blackhawks led the NHL in points this season. Now they’re moving closer to the top in ticket prices, too.

The cost of season tickets will rise an average of 16 percent next season, with every ticket in the United Center becoming more expensive. The most expensive seats will rise from $335 per game to $380, and the cheapest seats will rise from $28 to $36.

The Stadium Series game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on March 1 at Soldier Field isn’t included. Season-ticket holders will be guaranteed seats to that game if they want to purchase them separately.

Partial plans and single-game tickets also will rise, but those prices haven’t been set yet.

The Hawks were the 11th-most expensive season ticket in the NHL after being 29th in 2007-08, according to Chris Werner, the vice president of ticket operations. But with the waiting list having just cracked 12,000, the Hawks won’t have any trouble replacing any disgruntled fans who give up their tickets.

Fast start wanted

The Minnesota Wild has nine players participating in the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time, but the Hawks looked like the team with a little stage fright Tuesday. They’re hoping they can return to their regular-season groove Friday.

‘‘We want to make sure we start quicker,’’ coach Joel Quenneville said. ‘‘We want to play a faster game. We got better as the game progressed, but we want to make sure we’re at the same pace at the start as at the finish.’’

Match game

Quenneville has said all season that all four of his lines can compete against anyone’s top line on either end of the ice. And he showed that in Game 1 by rarely exploiting the home-team advantage of having the last line change after a stoppage.

All four lines — from Jonathan Toews’ top line to Marcus Kruger’s fourth line — saw action against the Wild’s top line of Mikko Koivu between Zack Parise and Charlie Coyle.

Wild coach Mike Yeo, meanwhile, had star defenseman Ryan Suter on the ice for a franchise-record 41 minutes, nearly every time Toews’ line or Patrick Kane’s line was out there.

Injury update

Quenneville ruled out center Dave Bolland (groin) and goalie Ray Emery (lower body) for Game 2.

Contributing: