{"id":490590,"date":"2026-05-09T07:37:41","date_gmt":"2026-05-09T11:37:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=490590"},"modified":"2026-05-09T07:37:41","modified_gmt":"2026-05-09T11:37:41","slug":"nhl-predictions-round-2-game-3-stanley-cup-playoffs-colorado-avalanche-minnesota-wild","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2026\/05\/09\/nhl-predictions-round-2-game-3-stanley-cup-playoffs-colorado-avalanche-minnesota-wild\/","title":{"rendered":"NHL Predictions: Round 2, Game 3 Stanley Cup Playoffs Colorado Avalanche vs Minnesota Wild"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcome to the NHL Predictions for the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Each day, our writers here at\u00a0<\/span>Last Word On Hockey<\/i>\u00a0<\/span>look at the games and give in-depth analysis. Our team breaks down the key matchups, storylines, and stats, then makes predictions based on how they might play out. For this edition, we will look at the Colorado Avalanche<\/a> against the\u00a0Minnesota Wild<\/a>\u00a0in\u00a0Game 3 of Western Conference second-round playoff action<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span>Don\u2019t forget to check out more NHL Predictions, as our writers will continue this series throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs, up to the final game.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

NHL Predictions with Colorado Avalanche at Minnesota Wild<\/span><\/strong>
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Series:\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>Colorado leads 2-0<\/span><\/p>\n

Time: <\/span><\/strong>9<\/span>:<\/span>00\u00a0<\/span>p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) | 6:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time (PDT)<\/p>\n

How to Watch: Canada: Sportsnet+, SN, SN1, CBC, TVAS, TVAS+<\/strong><\/h3>\n

United States: HBO Max, TNT, truTV<\/h3>\n

Location:<\/strong> Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul, Minnesota<\/span><\/p>\n

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Credit Image: \u00a9 Spencer Lee\/ZUMA Press Wire<\/span><\/p>\n

The seemingly unstoppable Colorado Avalanche take their 6-0 Stanley Cup Playoff record into Minnesota, looking to take a stranglehold in the series. Both teams locked it down a bit more in Game 2, but the Avalanche still emerged victorious in a 5-2 result. Now, Minnesota is in must-win territory if they want to stay in this series.<\/p>\n

The Avalanche Story<\/h3>\n

It was a much less chaotic game in Game 2, but once again, Colorado showed that they can adapt to any style of play. They were outshot 31-23, but Scott Wedgewood<\/a> bounced back with a 29-save performance after allowing six goals in Game 1. Nathan MacKinnon<\/a> recorded three points in Game 2 and six points total in the series. Devon Toews has four points, and Norris Trophy finalist Cale Makar<\/a> also has three points in the series.<\/p>\n

The Wild Story<\/h3>\n

Minnesota was able to outshoot Colorado in Game 2, but that was about all they could do to outdo them in. They only won 23 out of 62 faceoffs (37.1%), and gave up two power play goals, dropping their penalty kill percentage to 59.4% in the playoffs. Without Joel Eriksson Ek<\/a> and Jonas Brodin in the lineup, two key penalty killers, the rest of the series will be an uphill climb for the Wild. Eriksson Ek skated on Friday morning, and head coach John Hynes said that he would be a game-time decision for Game 3.<\/p>\n

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\ud83d\udde3\ufe0f Coach Hynes with an update on Joel Eriksson Ek pic.twitter.com\/Mpt6n471X8<\/a><\/p>\n

— x – Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) May 8, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n