Wild Clinch 12th Postseason Berth, Matchup against Blues in First Round

The Minnesota Wild have returned to the playoffs for the 12th time in team history and the 9th time in the last 11 years.

Lets take a look at how the Wild have done this season!

Minnesota came into this season with lots of expectations to return to the playoffs after losing a 7 game series to Vegas last season. They have fulfilled this goal, now its on to the next one: winning a playoff series.

This year the Wild were able to win 53 games, which is a new franchise record, as well as record 113 points, another franchise record. This is only the 5th time in team history that they have recorded at least 100 points. On the season, the Wild are 53-22-7 and average 3.72 goals/game, 3.04 goals against/game, as well as 76.1% power play percentage. Minnesota went 12-2-2 in the month of April, continuing their streak of success. The Wild have rarely had a down moment this year, and are known to rarely lose a regular season matchup. If they do, its usually in overtime or a shootout. Minnesota also has a new face in goal, Marc-Andre Fleury. Fleury is a 3-time Stanley Cup Champion with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He also played several seasons for the Vegas Golden Knights after that, and then recently goaltended for the downtrodden Chicago Blackhawks. In mid-March, Fleury was traded to Minnesota. He is 10-2 in a Wild sweater, and looks to somehow improve his playoff resume from previous years as he has now made the postseason with 3 different teams.

Their matchup: the St. Louis Blues. Not a team the Wild want to play. For context here is the summary of their regular season series:
January 1st (Winter Classic): vs. St. Louis L, 4-6
April 8th: @ St. Louis L/OT, 3-4
April 16th: @ St. Louis L/OT, 5-6

For the most part the Wild have not looked good against the Blues. The Winter Classic loss was really ugly until the 3rd period when the Wild made it close. But that was a different time for Minnesota, they were dealing with injuries in bunches and hadn't played a game in 2 weeks. When they met again, this time in St. Louis, on April 8th that was thought to be different. For much of the game the Wild were very stale, but made it interesting at the end and forced overtime. Same story for the third game. 
Minnesota hopes to turn the tide of their playoff history with this new influx of young talent. The Wild haven't advanced in the playoffs since the 2014-15 season when they bested the Blues in 6 games. They were swept by the cup-bound Blackhawks in the ensuing series. Minnesota has only advanced 3 times in their history. Last year was a surprise resurgence for the Wild, who were expected to rebuild and return in a year or two. This year the Wild are potentially favored in a series against the more recent archrival. Both teams do not like each other, and it will be quite the interesting series.

The Blues return their perennial best player in Vladimir Tarasenko, who bested the Wild last time they face each other in the postseason. Binnington also still goaltends for St. Louis. Meanwhile, Minnesota has their new franchise star in Russian wing Kirill Kaprizov, who has broken the franchise record for points and goals in a season (set by Marian Gaborik). It appears as though the Wild have a true superstar on their hands. He is signed long term for 6 years. Minnesota has prided themselves all season on fighting on the boards and having great goaltending down the stretch. That will be tested in this first round series.

Here is the series schedule:
Game 1: vs. St. Louis 5/2 8:30 PM CT (ESPN, BSN)
Game 2: vs. St. Louis 5/4 8:30 PM CT (ESPN, BSN)
Game 3: @ St. Louis 5/6 8:30 PM CT (TNT, BSN)
Game 4: @ St. Louis 5/8 3:30 PM CT (TBS, BSN)
Game 5: vs. St. Louis 5/10 TBD*
Game 6: @ St. Louis 5/12 TBD*
Game 7: vs. St. Louis 5/14 TBD*
*-If needed

It should be a fun series to watch! 

Go Wild!!