Vegas Golden Knights fans were pulling for a draw featuring the Minnesota Wild. They didn't want a St. Louis Blues team that won 13 of its last 16 games. That would've been bad news for the Golden Knights.
Nobody likes facing a red-hot hockey team in the first round, after all. That means you're golfing in late April or early May. Who wants to see Jack Eichel on the golf course during that time? Nobody, that's who. They prefer to see him set up Ivan Barbashev for big-time goals to win the Stanley Cup.
The good news is that those Blues will face the Winnipeg Jets in the first round. They're Connor Hellebuyck's problem, now. What's more is Hellebuyck has a GAA of 2.85 and a save percentage of .910 in 45 postseason starts. Sure, those stats appear decent from a distance. But when you consider his last 10 postseason starts have a save percentage below .900, that's an easy feast for St. Louis.
Still, that doesn't mean the Golden Knights should discount the Wild in any way. There are two players who will significantly impact the series. Their contributions could determine if Vegas can do the job (and if so, how long it'll take).
Who are these two mysterious Wild players? Will they run "wild" against the Golden Knights in a seven-game series? One common theme is they're both coming off injuries that kept them out of commission. Watch for these two players to score a goal or two against Vegas.
Kirill Kaprizov is the Minnesota Wild's heart and soul
Kirill Kaprizov was a Hart Memorial Trophy candidate before he suffered a lower-body injury. This season, he scored 25 goals and 31 assists in 41 games. Imagine the damage he would've done in an 82-game season. That would've consisted of 112 points and 50 goals, putting him at the top.
Kaprizov might be undersized (5'10") at his position. However, he's also quick and moves the puck well. The Russian left winger also has a hard shot, putting opposing defenses at a disadvantage. Most of all, he's a threat on the power play with four goals and 10 assists on the unit this season.
It's a good thing the Vegas Golden Knights know how to avoid the penalty box (197 penalties this season) by becoming the first NHL team to draw fewer than 200 penalties. That could come in handy for containing Kaprizov. They must also control the neutral zone and get their sticks out, ensuring the Russian forward doesn't make a move.
The Vegas Golden Knights must also watch for Marco Rossi
Another forward to watch for is Marco Rossi. The center has 24 goals and 36 assists this season with the Minnesota Wild, making him a scoring threat. Like Kirill Kaprizov, he also suffered a lower-body injury that kept him out of commission. He'll be a name to watch when the series starts.
He's also similar to Kaprizov in size, standing at 5'9". Once again, containing him in the neutral zone and overpowering him will be key to neutralizing the Austrian forward. If the Golden Knights can do this, the Wild will struggle to generate anything offensively.
That's especially true since he's good at leading in transition. He's the type of player to rush down the ice on the attack, keeping opposing defenders on their heels. That must be avoided at all times if Vegas wants to defeat the Wild in the first round.