Golden Knights Set for Stanley Cup Playoffs Against Wild

LAS VEGAS, Nevada — The Vegas Golden Knights will face the Minnesota Wild in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, which kick off April 19. Vegas, finishing atop the Pacific Division with a record of 49-22-10, will have home-ice advantage for the best-of-seven series.

On Tuesday, Minnesota clinched the first wild-card spot in the Western Conference after securing a 3-2 overtime win against the Anaheim Ducks. The Wild, with a record of 45-30-7, are hoping to advance in the playoffs after failing to do so since 2015.

In their only previous playoff encounter, Vegas triumphed over Minnesota in seven games during the first round in 2021. The Golden Knights come into this matchup with confidence, having swept the season series against the Wild, winning all three games by a combined score of 12-4.

Vegas boasts a strong roster, highlighted by center Jack Eichel, who leads the team with 93 points including 27 goals and 66 assists over 76 games. Key contributions have come from forwards Jonathan Marchessault, tallying 67 points in 66 games, and Chandler Stephenson, who has recorded 61 points in 73 games. In goal, Adin Hill has been a solid presence, holding a record of 32-13-5 in 50 starts, with a 2.47 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage.

On the Minnesota side, forward Kirill Kaprizov has been instrumental in their late-season surge, recently returning from a lower-body injury. Kaprizov posted two goals and an assist in his return against the San Jose Sharks on April 9, contributing to Minnesota’s playoff-clinching performance. Throughout the regular season, Kaprizov scored a total of 73 points, while centers Mats Zuccarello and Joel Eriksson Ek added 60 and 56 points, respectively.

Goaltending has been a mixed bag for the Wild, with Marc-André Fleury ending his career’s final season with a 31-19-6 record and a 2.56 goals-against average. However, the team will look to improve their overall play, as they ranked 24th in goals scored and 16th in goals allowed.

The Golden Knights and Wild have shown contrasting seasons, with Vegas entering the playoffs for the third straight year and claiming their fourth division title in eight years as an expansion team. Conversely, Minnesota will be seeking to turn the tide after last qualifying for the playoffs in 2022, only to be eliminated in the first round by the St. Louis Blues.

The Stanley Cup Playoffs format allows for a fiercely contested bracket, where division winners will face wild-card teams in the opening round. The Golden Knights are eager to capitalize on their home advantage through Games 1, 2, 5, and 7 in the series, based on playoff regulations.

As the postseason approaches, the stakes have never been higher for both franchises, with Vegas aiming for another shot at the Stanley Cup after their championship run in 2023, and Minnesota eager to reestablish themselves as contenders in a competitive league.