The Minnesota Wild have found a formula that worked against the Colorado Avalanche in Game 3, and they aim to replicate it on Monday night at Grand Casino Arena in Saint Paul. After dropping the first two games of the Western Conference semifinals, the Wild roared back with a 5-1 victory on Saturday, cutting the Avalanche’s series lead to 2-1. Now the question is whether Minnesota can sustain that intensity or if Colorado will adjust and regain control.
Forward Ryan Hartman emphasized the need to maintain physical play. “Obviously, they’re going to be settled a little more (in Game 4), and we expect a push,” Hartman said. “But expect more of the same from us.”
The Avalanche, who had not trailed in the playoffs until Saturday, are now forced to respond after their first postseason loss. Colorado outscored Minnesota 14-8 over the first two games but struggled in Game 3, particularly on the penalty kill, where they allowed two power-play goals. Captain Gabriel Landeskog acknowledged the need for a quick rebound. “They came out hard, as we expected, in the first period in their own building. I think they came out a lot better than we did,” Landeskog said. “It’s just, have a short memory, learn from it and move on. Come back stronger in Game 4.”
The penalty kill will be a focus for Colorado. “Our PK has been great for us all playoffs here and all season, really,” Landeskog added. “(On Saturday) they got a couple on us. … We need to push back on them in Game 4.”
Goaltending could be pivotal. The Wild’s Jesper Wallstedt, who allowed eight goals in a forgettable series opener and was benched for Game 2, returned to form in Game 3 with 35 saves on 36 shots. He is 5-3-0 with a 2.61 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage this postseason. The Avalanche are expected to counter with Scott Wedgewood, who was pulled in the second period of Game 3 after allowing three goals on 12 shots. Wedgewood holds a 6-1-0 record with a 2.45 GAA and a .911 save percentage in the playoffs.
The Wild may also get a boost from forward Joel Eriksson Ek, who has missed the first three games with a lower-body injury but could return Monday. Before his injury, Eriksson Ek registered five points (three goals, two assists) and a plus-7 rating in six playoff games. Kirill Kaprizov leads Minnesota in playoff scoring with 14 points (four goals, 10 assists), followed by Quinn Hughes (13 points, four goals, nine assists) and Matt Boldy (11 points, seven goals, four assists).
For the Avalanche, Nathan MacKinnon paces the team with 11 points (five goals, six assists). Landeskog has eight points (three goals, five assists), while Devon Toews and Martin Necas each have seven points.
Landeskog noted the high skill level on both sides. “We knew this was going to be a tough series, and here we are,” he said. “This is what we expected — and if you didn’t, I think you were a bit naive.”
