Colorado’s 5-1 win over the Kings Thursday night clinched the top seed in the Western Conference and the West Division title, meaning the Minnesota Wild will face the Vegas Golden Knights in the first round of the playoffs.
Had Colorado lost, the Wild would’ve been headed to Ball Arena in Denver for a date for the Avalanche. Instead, they get to face a Golden Knights team that they have defeated twice in Sin City and three times in St. Paul this season.
Vegas went 3-5 against the Wild, while Minnesota struggled against Colorado during the regular season.
Minnesota wrapped up the regular season with a 7-3 loss to the St. Louis Blues Thursday night, though star players Kirill Kaprizov, Kevin Fiala, Mats Zuccarello, Jonas Brodin and Jared Spurgeon had the night off to rest for the playoffs.
The best-of-seven first-round series begins Sunday at 2 p.m. Central Time in Las Vegas.
Here is the first round schedule:
Sunday, May 16, 2 p.m.: Wild at Golden Knights | NBC
Tuesday, May 18, 9 p.m.: Wild at Golden Knights | NBCSN
Thursday, May 20, 8:30 p.m.: Golden Knights at Wild | NBCSN
Saturday, May 22, 7 p.m.: Golden Knights at Wild | NBC
*Monday, May 24, TBD: Wild at Golden Knights | TBD
*Wednesday, May 26, TBD: Golden Knights at Wild | TBD
*Friday, May 28, TBD: Wild at Golden Knights | TBD
