Colorado Avalanche vs Minnesota Wild Picks and Prediction for Saturday May 9 2026
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The Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Wild will meet for Game 3 of the Western Conference Second Round on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Grand Casino Arena in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Puck drop is scheduled for 9:00 PM, and the game will air on TNT, truTV, and HBO Max. Colorado enters the matchup with a 2-0 series lead and is listed as a -130 favorite on the moneyline. The total for the game is set at 6.5 goals. Get into the NHL playoff action with our free NHL Picks.
Previous Game Recap
Colorado continued its dominant offensive stretch with a 5-2 victory over Minnesota in Game 2. The Avalanche jumped ahead early with two first-period goals and never lost control of the game. Minnesota briefly stayed within striking distance after scoring once in the opening period, but Colorado continued to pressure the Wild throughout the night before adding two more goals in the third period to secure another comfortable win.
Minnesota received goals from Marcus Johansson and Kirill Kaprizov in the loss. Ryan Hartman added an assist while Danila Yurov and Mats Zuccarello each contributed helpers as well. Filip Gustavsson faced heavy pressure throughout the game and stopped 18 of 22 shots before the empty-net sequence late. The Wild generated 31 shots overall but struggled to contain Colorado’s transition offense and puck movement.
Colorado had another explosive offensive performance led by Nathan MacKinnon, who finished with one goal and two assists. Gabriel Landeskog also recorded a goal and an assist, while Martin Necas added a goal and an assist. Valeri Nichushkin and Nicolas Roy both scored as well, and Brett Kulak contributed two assists from the blue line. Scott Wedgewood was excellent in goal, stopping 29 of 31 shots for a .935 save percentage.
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Avalanche Continue to Dominate the Series
Colorado enters Game 3 with a 55-16-11 overall record and an outstanding 29-7-5 road mark. The Avalanche have recently won over Minnesota twice in this series by scores of 9-6 and 5-2. Colorado also recently won over Los Angeles three straight times in the previous round, giving the Avalanche five consecutive victories entering Saturday night.
The Avalanche have been one of the most dangerous offensive teams in hockey this season. Colorado averaged 3.63 goals per game while allowing only 2.40 goals against per contest. The Avalanche also averaged 33.7 shots per game while surrendering just 26.1 shots against. Defensively, Colorado operated with an 84.6 percent penalty kill while also limiting opponents consistently throughout the season.
One of Colorado’s biggest strengths entering this matchup is offensive firepower combined with strong goaltending. The Avalanche have scored 14 goals through the first two games of this series while also receiving excellent performances in net from Scott Wedgewood. Colorado continues to pressure defenses with speed and shot volume, which has overwhelmed Minnesota so far.
Wild Return Home Trying to Shift Momentum
Minnesota enters Game 3 with a 46-24-12 overall record and a strong 23-10-8 home mark. The Wild recently lost to Colorado twice in this series after recently winning over Dallas three straight times in the previous round. Minnesota now returns home facing a difficult spot after allowing 14 goals through the opening two games.
The Wild averaged 3.27 goals per game this season while allowing 2.87 goals against per contest. Minnesota averaged 29.2 shots per game and converted 25.2 percent of its power-play opportunities. The Wild also finished with seven short-handed goals during the season while maintaining a 79.8 percent penalty kill.
The biggest challenge for Minnesota entering Game 3 is slowing down Colorado’s attack. The Wild allowed nine goals in Game 1 and five more in Game 2 while struggling to contain Colorado’s top offensive players. Minnesota still generated 31 shots in the latest game, which shows offensive potential remains present, but defensive consistency has been a major issue through the series so far.
Colorado Avalanche vs Minnesota Wild Picks and Prediction
Moneyline Pick:
- Colorado Avalanche Moneyline
Colorado has completely controlled the first two games of the series and continues to look like the more explosive and balanced team overall. The Avalanche have recently won five straight games while scoring at least four goals in all five victories. Colorado also holds significant advantages in goals per game, shots per game, and goals against average compared to Minnesota. With Nathan MacKinnon continuing to lead the offense and Scott Wedgewood playing at a high level in net, Colorado looks well positioned to take a commanding 3-0 series lead.
Total Pick:
- Over 6.5
The over remains attractive given how this series has played offensively. Colorado and Minnesota combined for 15 goals in Game 1 and seven more in Game 2. The Avalanche have already scored 14 goals through the first two games, while Minnesota still generated 31 shots in the latest matchup. Both teams possess offensive talent capable of producing quickly, and the pace of this series has consistently created scoring opportunities. The lean is toward the over again.
Final Score Prediction: Colorado Avalanche 5 – Minnesota Wild 3
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