Avalanche at Minnesota Wild Game 3: Series-Defining Result, Lines, Notes & How To Watch

The Presidents’ Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche continue their second-round series against the Minnesota Wild at Grand Casino Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:10 pm MT and will be broadcast nationally on TNT.
Please consider donating to the Colorado Hockey Now Playoff Travel Fund to help our beat writer provide coverage from road games in Minnesota: PAYPAL or VENMO
Key Stories to Watch
- The Avalanche can take a commanding three-game series lead against the Wild with a win on the road. While it wouldn’t technically end the series, it could be the game that defines the series. The pressure is definiely on Minnesota to find a way to bounce back from two bad losses.
- Josh Manson was on the ice for morning skate, but head coach Jared Bednar did not confirm if he’ll play. Nick Blankenburg also skated and came off before Manson.
- For Minnesota, Joel Eriksson Ek and Jonas Brodin remain out with lower-body injuries. Eriksson Ek had been skating with the team, albeit without taking part in drills. He did not take the ice on Saturday morning. Brodin has not yet begun to skate.
- Scott Wedgewood will likely make his third consecutive start in the series and seventh in a row in the postseason. The Wild are turning back to Jesper Wallstedt, who played every game before getting sat for Game 2 in Colorado. Wallstedt gave up eight goals in the opening game of the series.
Projected Avalanche Lines (subject to change)
Artturi Lehkonen — Nathan MacKinnon — Martin Necas
Ross Colton — Brock Nelson — Valeri Nichushkin
Gabriel Landeskog — Nazem Kadri — Nicolas Roy
Parker Kelly — Jack Drury — Logan O’Connor
Devon Toews — Cale Makar
Brett Kulak — Sam Malinski
Nick Blankenburg — Brent Burns
Scott Wedgewood
Mackenzie Blackwood
Projected Wild Lines (subject to change)
Kirill Kaprizov — Ryan Hartman — Mats Zuccarello
Marcus Johansson — Danila Yurov — Matt Boldy
Yakov Trenin —Michael McCarron — Vladimir Tarasenko
Marcus Foligno — Nico Sturm — Nick Foligno
Quinn Hughes — Brock Faber
Jake Middleton — Jared Spurgeon
Daemon Hunt — Zach Bogosian
Jesper Wallstedt
Filip Gustavsson
Projected Starters (subject to change)
- Expected: Scott Wedgewood (COL)
- Confirmed: Jesper Wallstedt (MIN)
Avalanche Injuries
- Josh Manson (upper body, day to day)
- Joel Kiviranta (TBD, day to day)
Wild Injuries
- Jonas Brodin (lower body, day to day)
- Joel Eriksson Ek (lower body, day to day)
How to Watch
Playoff Series Head-to-Head
- Game 1 vs Minnesota Wild (W, 9-6 — COL leads series 1-0)
- Game 2 vs Minnesota Wild (W, 5-2 — COL leads series 2-0)
- Game 3 at Minnesota Wild (May 9 at 7 pm MT)
- Game 4 at Minnesota Wild (May 11 at TBD)
- Game 5 vs Minnesota Wild (May 13 if necessary)
- Game 6 at Minnesota Wild (May 15 if necessary)
- Game 7 vs Minnesota Wild (May 17 if necessary)
Regular Season Head-to-Head
- Nov. 28 at Minnesota Wild (L, 3-2 SO)
- Dec. 21 at Minnesota Wild (W, 5-1)
- Feb. 26 vs Minnesota Wild (L, 5-2)
- March 8 vs Minnesota Wild (W, 3-2 SO)
Overall Playoff Results
- R1, G1 vs Los Angeles Kings (W, 2-1)
- R1, G2 vs Los Angeles Kings (W, 2-1 OT)
- R1, G3 at Los Angeles Kings (W, 4-2)
- R1, G4 at Los Angeles Kings (W, 5-1)
- R2, G1 vs Minnesota Wild (W, 9-6)
- R2, G2 vs Minnesota Wild (W, 5-2)




