Vegas VS Minnesota

Mark Stone
2019-20 Upper Deck MVP #49

It still looks weird to me...

The Vegas Golden Knights against the Minnesota Wild in the 2021 Playoffs.

Another expansion team matchup. The relatively shiny new Golden Knights managed to make it all the way to the Finals during their very first year (2017-18).

The Vegas Golden Knights have never missed the Playoffs during their short existence, and have emerged the series winner 5 times.

Los Angeles, San Jose and Winnipeg were knocked out by the Knights en route to the Finals in 2018. After that incredible first year, Vegas was dealt a first-round elimination in 2019.

One of my very first Vegas Golden Knights cards was probably Mark Stone from 2019-20 Upper Deck MVP. Appropriate, as he's since been named Captain of the team.

Andrew Brunette
2003-04 Upper Deck #94

The Minnesota Wild (established in 2000-01) made a surprise run to the Western Conference Finals in 2003. This counts for 2 of the 4 playoff series victories in the team's history.

The Wild have defeated Colorado twice, with the other series wins coming over St Louis and Vancouver.

Digging into the earliest Minnesota Wild cards that I actually collected, Andrew Burnette's card caught my attention, having played for expansion teams Nashville, Atlanta and Minnesota.

He had two different stints with the Wild. From 2001-2004, and again from 2008-2011.