The first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs features 16 teams in eight best-of-7 series, which start Saturday. Today, NHL.com previews the Western Conference First Round between the Vegas Golden Knights and Minnesota Wild. Golden Knights: 50-22-10, 110 points Wild: 45-30-7, 97 points Season series: VGK: 3-0-0; MIN: 0-3-0 Game 1: at Vegas, TBD

The Golden Knights have a golden opportunity to win their second Stanley Cup in three years. The Knights are 7-1 favorites at the Westgate SuperBook, topping a group of 10 teams with odds of 12-1 or less to win the NHL championship.

It’s funny to look back now and remember that the Vegas Golden Knights’ rise to a perennial NHL power in their initial Stanley Cup Playoffs run was fraught with skepticism.