The season has not been an easy one for the Minnesota Wild. In late February, the Wild went on a skid so bad that even the heartiest of fans began to doubt their ability to make the playoffs. Analysts across the spectrum predicted doom, and still the Wild fought on. The Wild made little or no movement at the trade deadline (a prediction made here first). At the time, Wild players, fans, and writers alike questioned the intelligence of not supplementing the defense, or picking up a much-needed center.

General Manager Doug Risebrough came through it all smelling like roses. The Chris Simon pickup has added another tough guy to a team outplayed physically last year in the playoffs. Adding Todd Fedoruk off waivers from Dallas has also supplemented team toughness.

After their mid-season slump, the Wild came back stronger than ever. They finished out the season in a NHL mandated run of games against division rivals. The Wild shook the final specter of the season when they defeated Calgary, a team that has been a traditional thorn in their side, to clinch the Northwest Division title.

With his turn as the team’s rotating captain, Marian Gaborik pulled the team out of the tailspin, and he is hot right when he needs to be. Scoring two third period goals against the Flames in the division clinching game, and setting franchise records for both goals (42) and points (83) in a season, Gaborik led his team out of a mid-season slump.

Goaltender Niklas Backstrom is also playing well down the stretch, which is crucial for a postseason push. Backstrom also set the franchise records for wins (33) this season. Defenseman Brent Burns set team records in goals (15) and points (43) for defenders and is showing a more physical side late in the season.

The Wild’s checking line of Branko Radivojevic, Stephane Veilleux, and either center Mikko Koivu or Eric Belanger have been outstanding at shutting down the opposition’s top lines, and have added their own offense. While the Avalanche have added Peter Forsberg, Adam Foote, and Ruslan Salei, the checking line for the Wild has all but shut them down. While the task of shutting down Sakic and Forsberg completely may be impossible, look for the Wild to continue their dominance in the playoffs.

The Wild and Avalanche have history, both in the regular season and in the playoffs. They both come out of the Northwest Division, facing each other eight times each season, and deepening the rivalry each game. The Wild came out on top of the season series with a 5-2-1 record. The Avs and Wild met in the second round in the 2002-03 playoffs, with the Wild coming back from a three games to one deficit to beat the Avs in seven games. However, that was five years ago and the Avalanche and the Wild both realize this is not that series, and this is not the regular season.

The Wild have fared well against the Avalanche both in Saint Paul, and in Denver this season. Look for Minnesota’s physical additions to give their skill players the room they need to dominate. Despite the additions the Avs made at the deadline, the Wild match up better in every aspect of the game except for center. The Avs will make an early exit losing to a Wild squad that has found its stride at exactly the perfect moment.

Prediction: Wild in six.