Minnesota Wild vs Vegas Golden Knights — Minnesota Wild center Marco Rossi vs Vegas Golden Knights left wing Tanner Pearson

The Vegas Golden Knights, celebrating their eighth year in the league, have clinched the Pacific Division title for the fourth time. They are set to face the Minnesota Wild in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Wild, back in the playoffs after a year`s absence, are determined to cause an upset and break their decade-long drought of playoff series wins.

Minnesota is a regular playoff team, having qualified in eight of the last ten seasons and achieving 100-point seasons four times. However, they haven`t advanced past the first round since 2014-15. Despite a strong start to this season, injuries challenged their depth. Still, they managed to secure a playoff spot in their final regular season game.

While there`s optimism for the Wild to finally win a playoff series, their mid-season slump resulted in a tough first-round matchup against the reigning 2023 champions, Vegas.

Vegas is known for its commitment to fielding a competitive team, led by coach Bruce Cassidy. Despite roster changes over the years, they remain one of the deepest teams in the NHL.

Key players for Vegas include Jack Eichel, who had a career-best offensive season, and Mark Stone, a top defensive forward. Shea Theodore and Alex Pietrangelo anchor the defense. Pavel Dorofeyev emerged as a surprise leading scorer with 34 goals this season.

Historically, these teams have limited playoff history. Their only prior playoff series was in the 2020-21 season, where Vegas defeated Minnesota 4-3 in the first round. With Minnesota at full strength, this upcoming series could be closely contested.

Head-to-head record:

Vegas Golden Knights: 3-0-0
Minnesota Wild: 0-3-0

Analysis:

Minnesota started the season exceptionally strong, comparable to Winnipeg`s hot streak. By early December, they were the top team in the NHL. However, a series of injuries to key players like Joel Eriksson Ek and Kirill Kaprizov derailed their momentum. Kaprizov`s injuries, in particular, impacted the team significantly, keeping him out for a large portion of the season and ending his Hart Trophy consideration.

Injuries to other players like Ryan Hartman, Mats Zuccarello, Jake Middleton, Jared Spurgeon, and Jonas Brodin further strained the Wild. Their significant dead cap space from past buyouts limited their flexibility in addressing these injuries.

Now at full health, the Wild are hoping to be at their best for the playoffs. Looking ahead, the Wild will have more cap flexibility next season, potentially allowing for roster upgrades. This season, their trade deadline acquisitions were Justin Brazeau and Gustav Nyquist.

The Golden Knights are favored in this series due to their consistent performance and depth. Their strong defense and balanced forward lines pose a significant challenge for the Wild, especially in trying to contain Kaprizov.

Vegas was among the league`s best in both offense and defense this season, ranking in the top five in both categories. They also boast a strong power play, giving them a special teams advantage despite a weaker penalty kill, as Minnesota`s special teams are even less effective.

Overall, Vegas enters the series with advantages in multiple areas, making an upset by Minnesota in 2025 seem unlikely, despite potential future improvements for the Wild.

Advanced Stats (5-on-5):

Regular Season Team Stats:

Golden Knights X-Factor: Tomas Hertl

Tomas Hertl, Vegas`s major trade deadline acquisition last year, aims to make a bigger impact this playoffs. After an injury-hampered arrival last season, Hertl has found his form, reaching 30 goals this season and strengthening Vegas`s center depth. The Golden Knights need more from Hertl this year, and despite a recent injury concern, he is expected to be a key contributor.

Wild X-Factor: Kirill Kaprizov

Kirill Kaprizov`s contract situation looms as a crucial factor for Minnesota`s future. His performance in this playoff series could influence his decision to extend his contract with the Wild. Minnesota`s playoff hopes heavily rely on Kaprizov`s ability to lead the team. Before his injury in December, Kaprizov was a top scorer in the NHL and a Hart Trophy contender. For the Wild to challenge Vegas, Kaprizov needs to deliver a standout series.

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