The Colorado Avalanche have an official opponent for the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs. The Minnesota Wild closed off their first-round series against the Dallas Stars in six games, setting up a collision course between Central Division heavyweights.
On the surface, this series could be an even, back-and-forth affair. But when looking under the hood, this series might not be quite as even.
Let’s jump in.
Overview
The Avalanche and Wild seem pretty evenly matched overall. The two teams split their regular-season series at two games apiece. Minnesota’s 3-2 shootout win on November 28 was highlighted by Jesper Wallstedt’s celebration, one that ignited the entire Colorado organization and fanbase.
The Avs followed that game up with a 5-1 win on December 21, with the Wild taking the third matchup 5-2 on February 26. Colorado won the showdown of the regular season against the Wild, 3-2 in the shootout.
Those were two decisive victories and two shootout wins. But when looking under the hood, the Avalanche emerge as a deeper, more talented club than the Wild. Colorado proved to be a more consistent team throughout the regular season, especially with the Wild dropping three of their last four games.
The Wild were able to outlast the Stars in their first-round series, considering that both sides were dealing with numerous injuries.
That’s not the case with the Avalanche. Colorado should be at full strength, making this matchup much more challenging for the Wild. The rested Avs should move in for the kill in the first couple of games. If the Avalanche can open up a 2-0 lead, the series could be over much sooner than anticipated.
Avalanche’s biggest strength lies in depth and balance
The Avalanche have the deepest, most balanced lineup in the current playoff field. Jared Bednar can consistently roll out four lines without really missing a beat. The three defensive pairs show a balance of puck-moving blueliners and solid defensive defensemen.
Then, there’s the goaltending situation. Scott Wedgewood, Vezina Trophy snub notwithstanding, has been lights-out all season long. Should Wedgewood need a breather, MacKenzie Blackwood can carry the load seamlessly.
As the Wild look to keep Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Martin Necas off the scoreboard, it will be up to guys like Brock Nelson and Nazem Kadri to make the Wild pay. That situation makes it virtually impossible for the Wild to hold the Avalanche back.
The first two games may be close, but it just seems like the Wild won’t be able to contain Colorado for too long.
One reason why Wild could upset Avalanche
There’s no question that the Wild will enter this series as the underdog. As superior as the Avalanche may seem, there’s a key reason that could lead the Wild to upset the Avalanche.
The Wild have proven to be a resilient bunch. They play a tough, defensive game. Minnesota is not afraid to mix it up, using physicality to slog games down. If they can manage to slow games down, they might have a chance to disrupt the Avalanche’s high-octane offense just enough to give them a chance.
In other words, the Wild will try to continue the LA Kings’ strategy. However, the difference will lie in having Minnesota actually execute it effectively. That situation could make for some tough overtime games. Once in extra time, the Wild could pull off timely wins.
It seems the Wild will have to rely on their goaltending to bail them out. If they can get that, it might be a tougher series for the Avalanche than initially anticipated.
Verdict: Avalanche advance to Western Conference Final
The Avalanche should prove to be too much for the Wild. While it’s unreasonable to expect another sweep by Colorado, Minnesota will likely run out of gas. The Wild should hang in there against the Avs, but Colorado’s depth will prove to be too much for Minnesota to overcome.
If the Wild manage to get games into overtime, they’ll have a chance. However, if Colorado can jump out to a big lead by sweeping the first two games at Ball Arena, the uphill battle may be too much for the Wild to overcome.
This series could be over quickly, though Colorado closing it out in six should be the most reasonable outcome.
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