The first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs features 16 teams in eight best-of-7 series, which start Saturday. Today, NHL.com previews the Western Conference First Round between the Vegas Golden Knights and Minnesota Wild.

After a one-year hiatus, the Wild are back in the NHL playoffs, securing a Western Conference wild-card spot in the final 22 seconds of regulation in the final game of the regular season. Minnesota’s journey from the top of the NHL standings in early December to scrambling to reach the tournament can be traced to a rash of injuries to their best players.

The Minnesota Wild opens the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Vegas Golden Knights. The Wild has not won a playoff series since the 2014-15 season. ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - For the 11th time in the last 13 seasons, the Minnesota Wild has a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.