Aarif Deen
The Presidents’ Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche continue their second-round series against the Minnesota Wild at Grand Casino Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 6:10 pm MT and will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.
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
- It appears we have a goalie change coming for the Colorado Avalanche. Mackenzie Blackwood was in the starter’s crease at morning skate and the first off the ice. Head coach Jared Bednar would not confirm the change, but he implied it, giving Blackwood his first start in nearly four weeks.
- The Avalanche are in need of a bounce back to avoid coming back home with the series tied at 2-2. They were outplayed in all facets of Game 3 and suffered their first postseason loss. Bednar said the team is open to all combinations throughout the game, which includes trying different line combinations in game.
- Among the other changes expected, both Josh Manson and Joel Kiviranta are options for tonight, after both missed several games with injuries. It’s a given that Manson will likely return tonight, but we’ll have to see about Kiviranta. The Finnish forward was among the first skaters off the ice, but so was Ross Colton, who he played ahead of to start the postseason.
- For Minnesota, Joel Eriksson Ek and Jonas Brodin remain out with lower-body injuries. They’re not making any lineup changes, including Jesper Wallstedt getting the nod again in goal. Wallstedt was solid in goal in Game 3, allowing just one goal after giving up eight 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
Josh Manson — Brent Burns
Mackenzie Blackwood
Scott Wedgewood
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
Daemon Hunt — Jared Spurgeon
Jake Middleton — Zach Bogosian
Jesper Wallstedt
Filip Gustavsson
Projected Starters (subject to change)
- Expected: Mackenzie Blackwood (COL)
- Confirmed: Jesper Wallstedt (MIN)
Avalanche Injuries
- N/A
Wild Injuries
- Jonas Brodin (lower body, day to day)
- Joel Eriksson Ek (lower body, day to day)
How to Watch
- TV: ESPN
- Radio: 92.5 FM
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 (L, 5-1 — COL leads series 2-1)
- Game 4 at Minnesota Wild (May 11 at 6 pm MT)
- Game 5 vs Minnesota Wild (May 13 at 6 pm MT)
- Game 6 at Minnesota Wild (May 15 at 6 pm MT if necessary)
- Game 7 vs Minnesota Wild (May 17 at TBD 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)
- R2, G3 at Minnesota Wild (L, 5-1)