Avalanche Make Goaltending Change for Critical Game 4 vs. Wild
The Colorado Avalanche will have a new last line of defense when they face the Minnesota Wild in Game 4 of their second-round playoff series Monday night. Following a 5-1 loss in Game 3, head coach Jared Bednar has turned to goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood, replacing Scott Wedgewood between the pipes.
Wedgewood, who started every Avalanche playoff game this postseason and helped the team win its first six contests, was pulled in Game 3 after allowing three goals on 14 shots. Blackwood entered in relief and stopped 12 of 13 shots in a strong relief performance. With the series now 2-1 in Colorado's favor, the change is a high-stakes attempt to restore the upper hand before the Wild can even the series on home ice.
Game 4 is set for 8 p.m. ET at Grand Casino Arena in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and will be broadcast on ESPN with streaming available via ESPN+ and Fubo. The Avalanche are still the betting favorite at -133 on the moneyline, with a puck line of -1.5 (+165). The over/under is 6.5 goals.
Series Background: Stakes Rise After Wild's Dominant Game 3
The Wild entered Game 3 up against the ropes after dropping the first two games in Denver. Colorado won a high-scoring 9-6 opener on May 3 and followed with a 5-2 victory in Game 2. But Minnesota roared back Saturday behind rookie goalie Jesper Wallstedt, who made 34 saves in a 5-1 win that gave the home crowd at Grand Casino Arena a much-needed victory. Forward Michael McCarron described the arena before Game 3 as "the loudest building [he's] ever been in."
The Wild have shown resilience throughout these playoffs. They ended a decade-long drought by advancing past the first round for the first time since 2015, defeating the Dallas Stars in six games. A key factor in that breakthrough was the blockbuster trade that brought defenseman Quinn Hughes to Minnesota. Hughes leads the Wild in series scoring with three points (1 goal, 2 assists) through three games.
Injuries are playing a role on both sides. The Wild will again be without center Joel Eriksson Ek (lower body), who practiced with the team Saturday but remains sidelined. Defenseman Jonas Brodin has missed three games with a lower-body injury. For Colorado, Joel Kiviranta and Josh Manson are both listed as day-to-day.
The Goalie Switch: Blackwood's Numbers vs. Minnesota
The decision to start Blackwood is grounded in his regular-season success. The 29-year-old posted a 23-10-2 record with a 2.51 goals-against average and a .904 save percentage over 39 games. Against the Wild specifically, he went 1-1-0 with a 2.05 goals-against average and a .937 save percentage in two starts during the regular season. In 10 career starts versus Minnesota, Blackwood owns a 3-5-2 record but a respectable .911 save percentage and 2.59 goals-against average.
Wedgewood, meanwhile, had been a revelation before Saturday’s loss. He entered Game 3 with a 2.00 GAA and .921 save percentage for the postseason after allowing only two goals through his first two starts against the Wild. In Game 3, however, his numbers dipped sharply to a 4.57 GAA and .861 save percentage in three games this series. MacKenzie Blackwood’s performance in relief—12 saves on 13 shots—likely sealed his opportunity for Game 4.
Player Matchups and Key Storylines
Nathan MacKinnon has been the Avalanche's offensive engine, leading all skaters in the series with six points (two goals, four assists). Martin Necas adds five points, and defenseman Devon Toews has four. The Avalanche penalty kill has been strong in the playoffs (85.7 percent) compared with Minnesota's 59.4 percent, which is a statistical weakness the Wild must address.
For the Wild, Kirill Kaprizov continues to be the focal point of the attack. He scored the first goal in Game 3 and has two points in the series. Kaprizov broke the franchise's all-time playoff goals record earlier this postseason and has 15 goals and 11 assists in 22 career games against Colorado. Vladimir Tarasenko, another key acquisition before the trade deadline, has 35 points (15 goals, 20 assists) in 50 career games versus the Avalanche.
Defensively, rookie Jesper Wallstedt is building confidence. After stopping 34 of 42 shots in Game 1—a loss—and watching Filip Gustavsson start Game 2, Wallstedt now has a win under his belt. He will need to be sharp again against a Colorado team that averages 4.50 goals per game in the postseason.
Broader Implications: What Game 4 Means for the Series and Beyond
Game 4 is arguably the pivotal moment of this second-round matchup. A Colorado win puts the Avalanche up 3-1 and within one game of advancing to the Western Conference Finals for the second time in four seasons. A Minnesota win ties the series 2-2 and ensures that all momentum shifts to the Wild, who would then have home-ice advantage for Game 5.
For the Avalanche, the goaltending change highlights a season-long pattern of rotating netminders. Scott Wedgewood carried the team through the first round sweep of an unnamed opponent, but his Game 3 struggles raise questions about consistency. Blackwood's opportunity is not just about this series—it may define the goaltending hierarchy moving forward, especially if Colorado advances deeper into the playoffs.
The Wild’s resurgence is a story of patience and roster construction. The blockbuster trade for Quinn Hughes, combined with the emergence of young players like Danila Yurov and the steadying presence of veterans like Mats Zuccarello, has transformed the Wild into a legitimate contender. If they can even the series, they will face the daunting task of winning in Denver, where the Avalanche lost only 16 games all season.
From a broader perspective, the outcome of this series could reshape the balance of power in the Western Conference. The winner will face either the Vegas Golden Knights or Anaheim Ducks in the conference final, depending on the outcome of that series, which currently sees Vegas leading 2-1.
Hockey fans can watch all the action live on ESPN and stream via ESPN+ as the Wild and Avalanche battle for control of a series that is increasingly living up to its hype.
For fans interested in other sports stories making headlines, check out our coverage of Disclosure Day: Spielberg Film Mirrors Real U.S. UFO File Release Amid Alien Frenzy and Putin Signals War’s End as Ceasefire Collapses Amid Mutual Accusations.
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