The Colorado Avalanche are at a crossroads heading into Monday night’s Game Four match-up against the Minnesota Wild. The result of the game will severely impact the outlook for the rest of the series.

If Colorado wins, they will be one game away from advancing to the Western Conference Final heading back home. But if they fall, the Wild will hold all the control and make it a best-of-three series.

Colorado Avalanche (6-1)

The undefeated streak is no more for the Avalanche after their loss on Saturday night in Game Three. They were outworked and outclassed, leading to this crossroads moment.


Nathan MacKinnon scored the lone goal of the game, and didn’t have much support around him. It also involved the first goaltender switch of the postseason, with Scott Wedgewood being pulled for Mackenzie Blackwood.

However, reinforcements could come on the defensive end. Josh Manson is “close,” according to Jared Bednar, and is an option on Monday night. Should he come in, expect the Avs defense to be sturdier and replace Nick Blankenburg.

Projected Lines

Artturi Lehkonen – Nathan MacKinnon – Martin Necas
Gabriel Landeskog – Brock Nelson – Valeri Nichushkin
Ross Colton – Nazem Kadri – Nicolas Roy
Parker Kelly – Jack Drury – Logan O’Connor

Devon Toews – Cale Makar
Brett Kulak – Sam Malinski
Brent Burns – Josh Manson

Scott Wedgewood
Mackenzie Blackwood

Minnesota Wild (5-4)

Minnesota’s vital victory on Saturday night energized the team and the crowd back into this series. A lot of physicality and disturbing Colorado’s peace earned them the win.


They were at a similar crossroads point in their last series against the Dallas Stars, down 2-1 heading into the fourth game. It was there that they rattled off three straight wins to win the series.

However, they will still be without Joel Eriksson Ek or Jonas Brodin due to injury on Monday. A replicated performance from Saturday, however, will get this series evened up going back to Denver.

Projected Lines

Kirill Kaprizov – Ryan Hartman – Mats Zuccarello
Marcus Johansson – Danila Yurov – Matt Boldy
Vladimir Tarasenko – Michael McCarron – Yakov Trenin
Marcus Foligno – Nico Sturm – Nick Foligno

Quinn Hughes – Brock Faber
Daemon Hunt – Jared Spurgeon
Jacob Middleton – Zach Bogosian

Jesper Wallstedt
Filip Gustavsson

Game Details

Time: 6:00 p.m. MT

Watch: ESPN

Listen: Altitude Sports Radio 92.5 FM/AM 950