{"id":490708,"date":"2026-05-11T07:49:34","date_gmt":"2026-05-11T11:49:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=490708"},"modified":"2026-05-11T06:03:30","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T10:03:30","slug":"nhl-predictions-round-2-game-4-stanley-cup-playoffs-colorado-avalanche-minnesota-wild","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2026\/05\/11\/nhl-predictions-round-2-game-4-stanley-cup-playoffs-colorado-avalanche-minnesota-wild\/","title":{"rendered":"NHL Predictions: Round 2, Game 4, 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\u00a0Colorado Avalanche<\/a>\u00a0against the\u00a0Minnesota Wild<\/a>\u00a0in\u00a0Game 4 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\u00a0Colorado Avalanche at Minnesota Wild<\/span><\/strong>
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Playoff Series:\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>Colorado leads 2-1<\/span><\/p>\n

Time: <\/span><\/strong>8<\/span>:<\/span>00\u00a0<\/span>p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) | 5:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time (PDT)<\/p>\n

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

United States: ESPN<\/h3>\n

Location:<\/strong>\u00a0Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul, Minnesota<\/span><\/p>\n

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Credit Image: \u00a9 Larry MacDougal via ZUMA Wire<\/span><\/p>\n

The Colorado Avalanche faced their first loss of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs in Game 3, and are looking for a bounce-back game here tonight. For the Minnesota Wild, it is virtually another must-win game for them as they hope to even up the series. The Wild took Game 3, 5-1, never looking back after two quick strikes late in the first period. They may be getting some help in their lineup with two players close to returning.<\/p>\n

The Avalanche Story<\/h3>\n

Colorado faced their first taste of adversity in these playoffs, but against a Wild team that has massive amounts of talent, some pushback was to be expected. Nathan MacKinnon<\/a> continues to be the top performer of the series, as he scored the only goal in a 5-1 defeat on Saturday. Is there pressure on the Avs to bounce back? Absolutely. Under head coach Jared Bednar, Colorado has never won a series after it had been tied at two-games apiece. Given some past failures in the second round of the playoffs, it is important that Colorado puts the hammer down in this series before it gets away from them.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere was a level they hit that we didn\u2019t get to,\u201d<\/em> Bednar told the media after Game 3. The Avalanche know that the Wild will give them everything they got, so they have to be ready for the onslaught. They may have Josh Manson and Joel Kiviranta available for tonight’s game, but lineup decisions will likely be revealed right before puck drop.<\/span><\/p>\n