The Minnesota Wild (46-28-8) will face the St. Louis Blues (51-24-7) if the first found best-of-5 series in the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. St. Louis finished in first place in the Central Division. The Wild earned the top Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.

The Wild are viewed by many league coaches as the hottest, and maybe the deepest, team in the field. Over the last 40 games of the season -- no team earned more points in the standings than Minnesota did (61). This is Minnesota's third straight playoff appearance -- a franchise record.

nhlplayoffsbracket.com
nhlplayoffsbracket.com
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The Bleacher Report has set the following odds for the 16-team field to win the cup:

  1. New York Rangers (8-1)
  2. Tampa Bay Lightning (9-1)
  3. Chicago Blackhawks (9-1)
  4. St. Louis Blues (10-1)
  5. Minnesota Wild (12-1)
  6. Washington Capitals (13-1)
  7. Nashville Predators (15-1)
  8. Anaheim Ducks (16-1)
  9. Montreal Canadiens (16-1)
  10. New York Islanders (20-1)
  11. Vancouver Canucks (22-1)
  12. Winnipeg Jets (22-1)
  13. Detroit Red Wings (25-1)
  14. Ottawa Senators (35-1)
  15. Pittsburgh Penguins (35-1)
  16. Calgary Flames (50-1)

The Wild/Blues first round series schedule shapes up like this:

  • Game 1: THU 4/16 at St. Louis (8:30 PM CT).
  • Game 2: SAT 4/18 at St. Louis (2 PM CT).
  • Game 3: MON 4/20 at Minnesota (7 PM CT).
  • Game 4: WED 4/22 at Minnesota (8:30 PM CT).
  • Game 5: FRI 4/24 at St. Louis (Time TBA).

Go Wild!

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