It’s been 12 years since the Avalanche and Wild met in the postseason, but they’re far from strangers.

The season series between the two teams was tight, which you would expect from two of the best teams in the NHL that happen to be division rivals. It would be wise to expect a playoff series between the teams to look the same.

These are a few key matchups within the series that could very well determine who advances to the Western Conference finals:

Nathan MacKinnon vs. Joel Eriksson Ek

Expect to see a lot of best-on-best this series, which doesn’t scare Jared Bednar. MacKinnon has more goals (27) and points (70) in his career against the Minnesota Wild than he does against any other team in the NHL. Granted, this Wild team is different than the one he faced four or five years ago, but he still managed to put up seven points (and 25 shots) in four games against Minnesota this season.

Eriksson Ek won’t be on an island, as he typically plays with Matt Boldy. MacKinnon will probably see a lot of Brock Faber, but the top centers for each team will get to know each other pretty well over the next two weeks. Ek is big, strong, talented and doesn’t back down from anyone. MacKinnon didn’t break out on the scoresheet against the Kings until the final game. They’ll need him going right from the drop of the puck in Game 1 against the Wild.

Brock Nelson’s line vs. Ryan Hartman’s line

The Avalanche swept the Los Angeles Kings and did so without a single 5-on-5 goal from their second line. It’s difficult to imagine them beating a better Wild team if that happens again.

Nelson’s line, which will include Valeri Nichushkin and a winger to be named later, will get the toughest defensive matchups again. They started the majority of their shifts in the defensive zone against the Kings and that’s unlikely to change against Minnesota. While they didn’t score any themselves, they also didn’t allow any. This is a series where they will need to do more than break even.

If the Avalanche have major advantage on paper, it’s down the middle. Colorado’s centers flexing their muscle on the ice will be essential for them to advance.

Minnesota’s power play vs. Colorado’s penalty kill

The Wild power play wasn’t great in round one, but don’t let that deceive you. They’re loaded, finishing third in the NHL in power play efficiency during the regular season. Colorado’s penalty kill was no slouch in the regular season, either, as it led the league by killing off 84.6% of the penalties they took. The Kings’ power play only looked dangerous when it had its goalie pulled, but this will be a much greater test for Colorado’s shorthanded unit.

One they’re prepping for.

“Any time you have Hughes running the top of the power play, they’re going to be pretty special,” Logan O’Connor said. “It’s a huge challenge for us.”

Colorado’s power play vs. Minnesota’s penalty kill

It’s safe to say the Wild penalty kill got abused by the Stars’ power play in round one, as it killed just 60% of Dallas’ man advantages. It’s also safe to say that the Avalanche power play is not nearly as dangerous as the one the Stars can throw out there.

How much of Minnesota’s penalty kill struggles were due their own issues and how much were due to the Stars being that good on the power play? The Wild finished 16th in the NHL during the regular season, so it was neither great nor truly bad, but the Avalanche could look to take advantage of any weaknesses the Stars exposed.

Whether they can is another question.

Colorado’s power play likely won’t fire at 40% efficiency like Dallas, but it has to be better than the 9.1% they put up against the Kings.

Scott Wedgewood vs. Jesper Wallstedt

Could these two goaltenders have taken a more different path to get where they are today? Wallstedt was a highly touted first-round pick who is already making a name for himself at the age of 23. On the flip side you have Wedgewood, a 33-year-old who has played for five NHL teams and has had to scratch and claw to get where he is now.

Yet, here they are. Both started their first NHL playoff games in round one and passed their first test with flying colors. The Avalanche come in with more firepower than the Stars, while the Wild certainly have more talent than the Kings. They’ll both face even greater tests in this series. Both teams have very good second options in Blackwood and Gustavsson if their starters struggle, but both Wedgewood and Wallstedt have earned the right to lead their teams at the moment.