Wild-Blues Preview: 3 reasons why you shouldn't sleep on this series

It's worth repeating that the St. Louis Blues and Minnesota Wild will tangle in the playoffs this week. Because of all the first-round matchups, this one is getting the least attention.

The season series was almost dead even. The Blues edged the Wild, going 3-2-0 in five games, yet the Wild outscored St. Louis 14-11.

This series doesn't have the allure of a No. 1 club or a Connor McDavid-esque superstar, but it still has a lot to offer, and shouldn't be counted out. Here's why:

Vladimir Tarasenko

Despite his club's roller-coaster play, Vladimir Tarasenko finished tied for the fourth-most goals in the league (39), and recorded a career-high 75 points.

He has quickly emerged as one of the most electrifying players in the game, and is a good enough reason on his own to tune into this series.

If you aren't convinced, consider he has 19 goals and 26 points in just 33 career playoff games.

As for his production against the Wild, in 19 regular-season games, he has eight goals and 15 points against Minnesota - the third- and fourth-most against any team over his career in those categories.

It's also worth noting that during the teams' only other series, in 2015, Tarasenko scored six goals and recorded seven points in his team's 4-2 series loss. He feeds off the Wild.

Wild fans go crazy come playoff time

They might not get the respect they deserve, but best believe the Minnesota Wild fans are as rambunctious as they come.

The crowd at Xcel Energy Center certainly lives up to the team's moniker, and appears to love seeing its club score goals more than anybody else. Watch a snippet of the video below from the 2015 postseason, and you'll notice the crowd gets fired up anytime a scoring chance is even remotely imminent.

You'll feel the energy through your TV screen. The excitement of fans at this time of the year is just part of what makes playoff hockey unlike anything else, and the Wild certainly do it right.

Both teams have something to prove

Both the Wild and Blues have unfinished business entering the postseason.

The Blues reached the third round for the first time since the 2001-2002 season last year before being trounced by the San Jose Sharks. The Wild, meanwhile, are hoping just to make it past the first round for only the fourth time in their history.

The clubs have had interesting seasons, to say the least.

The Blues appeared on the brink of missing the playoffs after a poor stretch in which they dismissed head coach Ken Hitchcock and promote Mike Yeo midway through the season. They got back on track, though, to nail down the third spot in the Central.

As for the Wild, their season appeared to be in cruise control heading into the All-Star break, until they hit a speed bump down the stretch. They went an ungodly 1-8-1 from March 12-28, due in large part to a Devan Dubnyk slump.

Both teams appear to have corrected things in the final week, and enter the postseason on multi-game winning streaks. The season will start over now, and you can expect they'll come out flying. Keep an eye out.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)