Minnesota Wild at Avalanche Game 5: Looking To Clinch at Home, Lines, Notes & How To Watch

The Presidents’ Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche continue the second-round series against the Minnesota Wild at Ball Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 6:10 pm MT and will be broadcast nationally on TNT.

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Key Stories to Watch

• The Avalanche can clinch the series at home with a win tonight, something they haven’t done since 2008, which also came against the Minnesota Wild. The Avs have made it past the second round just once since 2002, and it was when they won the Stanley Cup in 2022. Getting past the Wild today gets them back to the Western Conference Final for the eighth time in their 30 year history.
• Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar said Sam Malinski and Artturi Lehkonen are both still labeled as day-to-day, but they could “possibly” be options for Game 5.
• Mackenzie Blackwood looks to be the goalie again tonight for the Avalanche. Blackwood made 19 saves in a 5-2 Game 4 victory, including several grade-A stops in the third period to keep the Avs ahead. Blackwood was in the starter’s crease during the optional morning skate.
• For Minnesota, Joel Eriksson Ek and remain out with lower-body injuries. Neither of them traveled with the team back to Denver, and it’s increasingly likely they won’t get a chance to take part in this series. Eriksson Ek is skating in Minnesota, and Brodin has not yet taken the ice. is expected to start for the fourth time in five games in this series. Head coach John Hynes said he might make one injury-related lineup change for Game 5, but he won’t know for sure until closer to puck drop.