Wild and Stars on playoff collision course in powerful Central Division as they chase NHL-best Avs

The Minnesota Wild won their last five games to finish 8-1-1 before the NHL 's three-week schedule pause. Both teams have maintained top-five records in the league for much of the season — and they've constantly been trying to catch the rival Colorado Avalanche. Such has been the predicament in the powerful Central Division, where the NHL's siloed playoff format would pit the Stars against the Wild in the first round if the standings were to stay this way.

By DAVE CAMPBELL