Venue: Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul, Minnesota
Puck Drop: 8:00 p.m. CT / 9:00 p.m. ET
Injury Report
Colorado Avalanche
- Valeri Nichushkin — Out (personal leave)
- Samuel Girard — Out (upper body)
- Jonathan Drouin — Questionable (illness; expected to be a game‑time decision)
- Bowen Byram — Probable (lower body; expected to play)
Colorado remains shorthanded on the wings but has compensated with strong top‑line production and elite special teams.
Minnesota Wild
- Kirill Kaprizov — Probable (lower‑body soreness; expected to play)
- Jonas Brodin — Questionable (upper body; game‑time decision)
- Marcus Foligno — Out (back)
- Frederick Gaudreau — Out (wrist)
Minnesota’s defensive depth is stretched thin, and Brodin’s availability is critical against Colorado’s speed.
Team Records & Series Context
- Colorado Avalanche: 2–1
- Minnesota Wild: 1–2
- Series: Avalanche lead 2–1
- Last game (May 9): Avalanche won 4–2, controlling the neutral zone and outshooting Minnesota 37–28.
Colorado is attempting to take a commanding 3–1 series lead, while Minnesota is trying to avoid a 1–3 deficit that historically results in elimination more than 85% of the time.
Recent Team Form
Colorado Avalanche
- Last 5: W–W–L–W–W
- Goals per game (series): 3.67
- Goals allowed (series): 2.33
- Trend: Colorado is dictating pace, dominating zone entries, and getting elite play from Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen. Their forecheck has overwhelmed Minnesota’s second and third defensive pairings.
Minnesota Wild
- Last 5: L–L–W–L–W
- Goals per game (series): 2.33
- Goals allowed (series): 3.67
- Trend: Minnesota has struggled to generate sustained offensive pressure. Kaprizov has been productive, but the Wild lack secondary scoring and have been out‑possessed in all three games.
Key Player Matchups
1. Nathan MacKinnon (COL) vs. Joel Eriksson Ek (MIN)
- MacKinnon: 2 G, 4 A in series
- Eriksson Ek: Minnesota’s top shutdown center Eriksson Ek must slow MacKinnon in transition. So far, he hasn’t.
2. Mikko Rantanen (COL) vs. Kirill Kaprizov (MIN)
- Rantanen: 3 goals in series
- Kaprizov: 2 goals, 1 assist This is the marquee winger battle. Rantanen has been more efficient, while Kaprizov has faced heavier defensive pressure.
3. Cale Makar (COL) vs. Brock Faber (MIN)
Makar has controlled the blue line and is +4 in the series. Faber has played heavy minutes but has been forced into defensive‑zone starts due to Minnesota’s lack of depth.
4. Goaltending: Alexandar Georgiev (COL) vs. Filip Gustavsson (MIN)
- Georgiev: .921 SV%, 2.33 GAA
- Gustavsson: .899 SV%, 3.34 GAA Georgiev has been steadier and has made timely saves. Gustavsson has struggled with rebound control.
Series History
- 2025–26 season: Colorado leads overall 5–2 (regular season + playoffs).
- At Xcel Energy Center: Avalanche have won 3 of last 4.
- Trend: Colorado’s speed and transition game consistently exploit Minnesota’s slower defensive core.
Betting Trends
Colorado Avalanche
- 6–1 in last 7 games
- 4 straight overs
- 7–3 in last 10 road games
- 5–1 in last 6 vs. Minnesota
Minnesota Wild
- 2–5 in last 7
- Overs in 3 of last 4
- 1–4 in last 5 home playoff games
Matchup Trends
- Road team is 2–1 in this series
- Colorado has outshot Minnesota in all 3 games
- Colorado has scored first in 2 of 3 games
Game Odds
Colorado Avalanche – 142
Minnesota Wild 6.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Sunday, May 10, 2026
