Tailgate block party to kick off Wild playoff festivities

Community members and hockey fans are invited to attend a block party to be held Monday before the Minnesota Wild’s playoff game against the St. Louis Blues.
The party, which takes place at St. Paul’s Rice Park from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., is free and will include music, activities, beer and wine. Some fans will also grill in their own tailgate spots after the team coordinated a lottery system to do so.
The puck drop is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. at the Xcel Energy Center.
RELATED: Wild and Blues face off to start NHL playoffs
Monday’s game will be shown on Bally Sports North, ESPN and KFAN 100.3 FM.
The Xcel Energy Center on the morning of the first playoff game between the Minnesota Wild and the St. Louis Blues on May 2, 2022. Credit: Andrea Lyon/KSTP
The Wild will host Game 1 on Monday and Game 2 on Wednesday. If the series goes the distance, the Wild will play Game 7 on May 14 at the Xcel Energy Center, where the team went 31-8-2 this season.
The last time the Wild had the home advantage in a playoff series was against the Blues in the first round in 2017, when they lost in six games.
RELATED: Wild-Blues playoff preview