Game Three Preview: Wild vs. Avalanche

SAINT PAUL, Minn. -- The Minnesota Wild is back on home ice at Grand Casino Arena tonight, inviting the Avalanche to face off in what forward Michael McCarron called "the loudest building [he's] ever been in." 

Wild forward Joel Eriksson Ek practiced with the team yesterday, as did defenseman Zach Bogosian. Whether or not Eriksson Ek plays tonight will remain a gametime decision, while defenseman Jonas Brodin did not practice and is not expected to play.

Info for Today's Game:

• When: Saturday, May 9th at 8:00 p.m. CT
• Where: Grand Casino Arena (Saint Paul, Minnesota)
• Tickets: Buy Now
• Stream: TNT/truTV/MAX
• Listen: KFAN
• Gamecenter: R2G3: Wild vs. Avs

Series Record: 0-2

Wild Round 1 Record: 4-2

Avalanche Round 1 Record: 4-0

2025-26 Series Record: 2-1-1

All-Time Wild vs. Avs Regular Season Record: 63-56-14 (28-29-9 at Colorado)

All-Time Wild vs. Avs Playoff Record: 10-12 (5-4 at Grand Casino Arena)

The Series So Far

The Avalanche won Game 1, 9-6, in Denver (5/3) as well as Game 2, 5-2, at Ball Arena (5/5).

D Quinn Hughes leads the Wild with three points (1-2=3). LW Marcus Johansson (2-0=2), C Ryan Hartman (1-1=2), LW Kirill Kaprizov (1-1=2), C Danila Yurov (0-2=2) and RW Mats Zuccarello (1-1=2) each own two points. G Jesper Wallstedt stopped 34-of-42 shots faced for the Wild in Game 1. G Filip Gustavsson stopped 18-of-22 shots faced in Game 2.

C Nathan MacKinnon leads Colorado with six points (2-4=6) in the series. C Martin Necas has five points (1-4=5). D Devon Toews owns four points (1-3=4). G Scott Wedgewood is 2-0 with a 4.00 GAA and a .881 SV% in starting both games for the Avalanche.

Wild Regular Season Leaders

• RW Vladimir Tarasenko leads Minnesota with 35 points (15-20=35) in 50 career games against Colorado
• RW Mats Zuccarello owns 34 points (7-27=34) in 38 matches
• Kaprizov has 26 points (15-11=25) in 22 games
• Hartman has 21 points (10-11=21) in 42 games

Avalanche Regular Season Leaders

• MacKinnon leads the Avalanche with 70 points (27-43=70) in 55 career games against Minnesota
• Landeskog owns 46 points (21-25=46) in 52 games
• D Brent Burns has 29 points (5-17=29) in 49 games
• Makar has 26 points (6-20=26) in 29 games

Around the League

Round 2

Buffalo (D1) vs. Montreal (D3): series tied 1-1

Vegas (D1) vs. Anaheim (D3): VGK leads 2-1

Carolina (D1) vs. Philadelphia (D3): CAR leads 3-0

On the Mend

Zach Bogosian: lower-body injury (one game missed)

Jonas Brodin: lower-body (three games missed)

Joel Eriksson Ek: lower-body (two games missed)

Full Injury Report

At Tonight's Game

• Outdoor Watch Party: The party kicks off at 5 p.m., and the puck drops at 8 p.m.! Before the game, mingle with fellow Wild fans, listen to the Red Bull DJ, enjoy food and beverage and listen to a live session of Wild on 7th with hosts John King and Ryan Carter. For more information, please click here.
• Food Item of the Game: Enjoy your favorite game day beverages with our beer stick available at select locations around Grand Casino Arena!
• Retail Item of the Game: Round 2 is here and so is an all new line-up of merchandise. Gear up for the playoffs at the Hockey Lodge a Fanatics Experience!
• Post-Game Party: Keep the playoff fun going at the Taphouse near Gate 4 after the game for a post-game party. Enjoy food & drinks, music and more!

View all transactions

Connections

• LW Yakov Trenin recorded three points (2-1=3) in 16 games with the Avalanche in 2023-24
• C Nico Sturm collected three assists in 21 games with Colorado during the 2021-22 season and helped the Avalanche win the 2022 Stanley Cup with two assists in 13 games during the team’s 2022 postseason run
• Burns was selected by Minnesota in the first round (20th overall) of the 2003 NHL Draft and collected 183 points (55-128=183) and 325 PIM in 453 games with the Wild across seven seasons (2003-11)
• C Brock Nelson is from Warroad
• D Sam Malinski is from Lakeville

Fast Facts

• Minnesota has won four of its last seven meetings with Colorado, including two shootout victories
• The Wild’s 35 all-time home wins over Colorado is its most against any single opponent, while its 140 overall points and 63 overall wins ranks second
• Minnesota’s 28 all-time wins in Denver is the team’s second-highest road mark against a single opponent
• Minnesota defeated Colorado in the First Round of the 2003 and 2014 playoffs, both 4-3
• Colorado defeated Minnesota 4-2 in 2008 First Round

For more information on tonight's matchup, check out the game notes below.