The Colorado Avalanche now know their second-round opponent, as they draw the Minnesota Wild for the next seven-game series. This will be the first playoff match-up between the two since the first round in 2014.


Colorado will be looking to draw up some revenge from that series, as they lost in seven games at home in overtime. In the following round, the Wild would fall to the Chicago Blackhawks in six games.

How did we get here?

Colorado’s path to this point was a simple one. They swept the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday afternoon, which ended the legendary career of Anze Kopitar.

The Avs’ ability to get some rest for the last week has been great as guys like Josh Manson look to get healthy. He hasn’t practiced since his upper-body injury, but a longer break gives him more promise to play in this series against Minnesota with the full team practicing.


On the flip side, the Wild’s path was a little more wild. They were in a hard-fought battle for playoff seeding once the Avalanche ran away with the Central Division.

They would ultimately lose out to the Dallas Stars for home-ice advantage. But they got the last laugh by beating the Stars in six games earlier Thursday night with Quinn Hughes scoring the series-winner.

How does this series match up?

As always slated to be, this second round match-up was going to be a gauntlet. The other Central Division playoff match-up in the first round was also going to be a gauntlet. Expect this series to be no different.

The Avs and Wild are evenly matched, and the season series shows it. Colorado went 2-1-1 against Minnesota in the regular season, with each team winning and losing one on home ice.

A more in-depth series preview will come in due course. However, expect this series to be tough for both sides, full of firepower and game-changers.

When will this series start?

Usually, the NHL will draw up the second-round schedules after the conclusion of all the first-round matchups. With possible Game Seven’s all the way up until Sunday night, expect this series to start as early as Monday evening at Ball Arena.