playoff primer
• The Wild (26-19-3) will be the eighth seed in the West and open on the road against top-seeded Chicago (36-7-5) in a best-of-seven series beginning Tuesday or Wednesday. The Wild and Blackhawks have never met in the playoffs. Chicago won the season series 2-1.
• This will be the Wild's fourth playoff appearance in its 13 years of existence and its first since the 2007-08 season.
• Five current Wild players were on that 2008 playoff team: Mikko Koivu, Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Stephane Veilleux, Niklas Backstrom, Josh Harding.
• Its overall playoff record is 11-18. The only time it advanced past the first round was in 2003, when it reached the Western Conference finals.
More from Star Tribune
More from Star Tribune
More from Star Tribune
More from Star Tribune
More from Star Tribune
More From Star Tribune
More From Sports
Sports
'National disgrace': Oxford coach laments pollution in the Thames ahead of Boat Race
The coach of Oxford's crew taking part in the Boat Race described the pollution in London's River Thames as a ''national disgrace.''
Twins
Neal: Here's why the Twins will win the AL Central
Prediction: The Twins, with depth and pitching concerns, won't win 90-plus games, but they're still better than their rivals.
Sports
Australia's Hooper hopes to transition from 15s to rugby sevens in time for the Paris Olympics
After setting records in the traditional game, ex-Wallabies captain Michael Hooper is ready to complete the transition to rugby sevens in a bid to play for Australia at the Paris Olympics.
Colleges
Buzzer-beater lifts MSU Mankato women into Division II basketball title game
Emily Herzberg's late basket gave Minnesota State Mankato a 70-68 victory over Cal State San Marcos in an NCAA Division II women's basketball semifinal Wednesday night in St. Joseph, Mo.
Sports
Minnesota faces Denver on 3-game win streak
Minnesota Timberwolves (50-22, second in the Western Conference) vs. Denver Nuggets (51-22, first in the Western Conference)