The Colorado Avalanche will face off against the Minnesota Wild on Saturday night at the Xcel Energy Center. The Avalanche vs. Wild Game 3 showdown comes with a high degree of expectation. It’s the most important contest in the series so far.
A win by the Avalanche could effectively put the kibosh on the series. Meanwhile, a win by the Wild would put them back into the series. That’s why Saturday night’s tilt could define the series moving forward.
With that in mind, here’s a look at the projected lineup for the Avalanche for Game 3:
Forward lines
- Lehkonen-MacKinnon-Necas
- Landeskog-Nelson-Nichushkin
- Colton-Kadri-Roy
- Kelly-Drury-O’Connor
The idea behind the Avalanche’s forward lines is “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” The forwards have been strong throughout the postseason, with the bottom six playing a key role. So, fans shouldn’t expect that to change in Game 3 against the Wild.
Now, let’s look at the defense pairs:
- Toews-Makar
- Kulak-Malinski
- Blankenburg-Burns
We’re going to err on the side of caution here. Josh Manson remains a question mark for the Avalanche vs. Wild Game 3. Manson was a game-time decision ahead of Game 2, but didn’t play. So, here’s going to assume that will be the case again on Saturday night.
Now, Manson looked good at practice on Thursday:
Josh Manson skating ahead of Avs practice today. pic.twitter.com/LasCXBfZZA
— Romi Bean (@Romi_Bean) May 7, 2026
He wasn’t wearing a red sweater, so that’s a great sign. It didn’t seem like he had any issues afflicting him. But we’ll assume Nick Blankenburg will remain in the lineup until Manson gets the nod.
If Manson is ready to go, he should get into the lineup. The Wild will be desperate to get back into the series. That’s why having Manson back would be crucial.
Lastly, there should be no surprises in the crease. Scott Wedgewood should get the call, especially after a couple of extra days of rest.
Unless the wheels completely fall off Wedgewood, he’ll be getting the call. It remains to be seen if MacKenzie Blackwood could get a game in this postseason. If the Avalanche grab a 3-0 lead, the discussion may arise again.
Puck drop is set for 7 PM MST, with the Avs looking to put the Wild on the ropes in the series.
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