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 TV: TNT Radio: 92.