The Minnesota Wild are trailing 2-0 to the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference semifinals clash of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs. Nathan MacKinnon led the Avs to a 5-2 Game 2 win with 3 points (1 goal, 2 assists).
The Avalanche had a 3-1 lead after two periods, before Nathan MacKinnon increaded the lead to 3 goals with a power play goal in the third period. The Wild responded with a goal from Marcus Johansson with less than seven minutes left in the game. Valeri Nichushkin sealed the victory for the Avs with an empty net goal in the final moments of Game 2.
“Much better tonight. Still made a couple mistakes for sure. The difference for me is special teams,” said Avs HC Jared Bednar after the game.
How to watch Avalanche vs Wild Game 3
TV & Streaming options: TNT, truTV, HBO Max, Sportsnet, SN1, TVAS, CBC
Puck drop: 7 p.m. MT, 8 p.m. CT, 9 p.m. ET @ Grand Casino Arena, St. Paul, Minnesota
Avalanche vs Wild Game 3 Preview
Josh Manson is an option on the bench for the Colorado Avalanche in Game 3, confirmed head coach Jared Bednar on Friday. Joel Kiviranta took part in practice for the first time since suffering an injury in Round 1 against the Los Angeles Kings.
Mats Zuccarello missed team practice on Friday due to sickness but is expected to play Game 3 on Saturday night. Defenceman Jonas Brodin continues to be out due to a lower-body injury, and will miss Game 3, his fourth consecutive game. Joel Eriksson Ek is a game-time decision, after missing the first two games in Round 2. Head coach John Hynes did not confirm Minnesota Wild‘s starting goalie for Game 3, after changing netminders to Filip Gustavsson in Game 2, who conceded four goals on 22 shots.
“I’ll let you know later,” said Hynes with a smile, when asked about the team’s starting goaltender in Game 3.
The Minnesota Wild’s primary goal in Friday’s practice was penalty kill. In two games, the Wild have conceded 3 power play goals, 2 in jsut Game 2.
“It’s a big topic of discussion. It’s not a surprise to us. You go back to the drawing board and make changes,” said Wild’s Matt Boldy about team’s PK struggles.
Avs vs Wild Head-to-head Stats
Here’s how both teams square up in key stats across the 2025-26 regular season and playoffs so far:
Avalanche projected lines for Game 3
Lehkonen – MacKinnon – Necas
Landeskog – Nelson – Nichushkin
Colton – Kadri – Roy
Kelly – Drury – O’Connor
Toews – Makar
Kulak – Malinski
Manson – Burns
Wedgewood
Wild projected lines for Game 3
Kaprizov – Hartman – Zuccarello
Johansson – Eriksson Ek – Boldy
Tarasenko – McCarron – Trenin
M. Foligno – Sturm – N. Foligno
Hughes – Faber
Middleton – Spurgeon
Hunt – Bogosian
Wallstedt
Avalanche vs Wild odds and prediction
The Colorado Avalanche are favorites to win Game 3, at -128, while the Minnesota Wild are the underdogs, at +106. The puck line is set at +1.5 for the Wild, at -225, i.e., they have to win outright or lose by just one goal to cover the spread. The Avalanche, at +176, have to win by two goals or more to cover a -1.5 spread. The over/under is set at 6.5 goals.
Score prediction: Colorado Avalanche 6, Minnesota Wild 3
Avalanche vs Wild betting tips:
- Over/under: OVer 6.5 goals (+104)
- Money line: Colorado Avalanche to win (-128)
- Puck line: Avalanche cover -1.5 spread (+176)
Edited by Srihari Anand