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The Colorado Avalanche head to St. Paul on Saturday looking to take complete control of their second-round series against the Minnesota Wild in a pivotal Game 3 matchup.
MORE:Oilers urged to avoid panic move involving $74M D-man after early playoff exit
May 5, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes (43) prepares to shoot the puck against the Colorado Avalanche in game two of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Colorado has been nearly unstoppable through the postseason so far, opening the playoffs with six straight wins and outscoring opponents 30-11 during that stretch. The Avalanche took the first two games of this series in Denver by scores of 9-6 and 5-2, with Nathan MacKinnon continuing to dominate offensively. MacKinnon already has 10 playoff points through six games, while Cale Makar has added four postseason goals from the blue line as Colorado’s speed and transition offense have overwhelmed Minnesota early in the series.
– Live Stream Avalanche vs Wild with DIRECTV –
The Wild now return home facing enormous pressure to avoid a 3-0 deficit, something teams historically almost never recover from in NHL playoff history. Minnesota’s biggest issues so far have been special teams and defensive structure. The Wild penalty kill has struggled badly against Colorado’s power play, while goaltending inconsistency has forced another lineup decision entering Saturday, with rookie Jesper Wallstedt expected to return in net after Filip Gustavsson started Game 2. Minnesota still has elite offensive talent capable of changing the series quickly, led by Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy, and Quinn Hughes, but the Wild need a far tighter defensive effort after allowing 14 goals through the opening two games.
One of the biggest storylines entering Game 3 is whether Minnesota can finally slow Colorado’s transition attack on home ice. The Avalanche have generated offense from nearly every line combination, with 11 different skaters recording points in the series already, while Scott Wedgewood has stabilized things in goal during Colorado’s unbeaten playoff run. The Wild crowd should provide a major boost Saturday night, but Colorado suddenly looks like one of the NHL’s most complete teams and is now one win away from putting the series almost entirely out of reach.
This is a great NHL matchup that you will not want to miss; make sure to tune in and catch all the action.
Live Stream Avalanche vs Wild with DIRECTV: Start your free trial now!
With the MySports® Genre Pack® from DIRECTV, you can stream the NHL Playoffs and more live TV, without cable, on your phone, TV, or tablet. This pack includes top channels like NHL Network, NBA TV, MLB Network, and FS1. Get this pack for $64.99/month* and enjoy the ESPN Unlimited subscription too**.
There’s no annual contract, you can cancel anytime, and new users can take advantage of a 5-day free trial to get started.
*New residential customers only. Cancel anytime. A valid card is required; a temporary credit hold may apply during trial. Local channels vary by market. Blackout restrictions apply. Select sales channels only. Restrictions apply.
** This will not replace any existing Disney+, Hulu, ESPN, or Disney bundle subscription you may already have. All other accounts must be managed separately. You must remain on an eligible plan to retain your offer.
Regional restrictions may apply. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.
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MORE:Oilers urged to avoid panic move involving $74M D-man after early playoff exit
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May 5, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes (43) prepares to shoot the puck against the Colorado Avalanche in game two of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
How to Watch Avalanche vs Wild
- When: Saturday, May 9, 2026
- Time: 9:00 PM ET
- TV Channel: TNT / truTV
- Live Stream: DIRECTV (try for free)
Colorado has been nearly unstoppable through the postseason so far, opening the playoffs with six straight wins and outscoring opponents 30-11 during that stretch. The Avalanche took the first two games of this series in Denver by scores of 9-6 and 5-2, with Nathan MacKinnon continuing to dominate offensively. MacKinnon already has 10 playoff points through six games, while Cale Makar has added four postseason goals from the blue line as Colorado’s speed and transition offense have overwhelmed Minnesota early in the series.
– Live Stream Avalanche vs Wild with DIRECTV –
The Wild now return home facing enormous pressure to avoid a 3-0 deficit, something teams historically almost never recover from in NHL playoff history. Minnesota’s biggest issues so far have been special teams and defensive structure. The Wild penalty kill has struggled badly against Colorado’s power play, while goaltending inconsistency has forced another lineup decision entering Saturday, with rookie Jesper Wallstedt expected to return in net after Filip Gustavsson started Game 2. Minnesota still has elite offensive talent capable of changing the series quickly, led by Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy, and Quinn Hughes, but the Wild need a far tighter defensive effort after allowing 14 goals through the opening two games.
One of the biggest storylines entering Game 3 is whether Minnesota can finally slow Colorado’s transition attack on home ice. The Avalanche have generated offense from nearly every line combination, with 11 different skaters recording points in the series already, while Scott Wedgewood has stabilized things in goal during Colorado’s unbeaten playoff run. The Wild crowd should provide a major boost Saturday night, but Colorado suddenly looks like one of the NHL’s most complete teams and is now one win away from putting the series almost entirely out of reach.
This is a great NHL matchup that you will not want to miss; make sure to tune in and catch all the action.
Live Stream Avalanche vs Wild with DIRECTV: Start your free trial now!
With the MySports® Genre Pack® from DIRECTV, you can stream the NHL Playoffs and more live TV, without cable, on your phone, TV, or tablet. This pack includes top channels like NHL Network, NBA TV, MLB Network, and FS1. Get this pack for $64.99/month* and enjoy the ESPN Unlimited subscription too**.
There’s no annual contract, you can cancel anytime, and new users can take advantage of a 5-day free trial to get started.
*New residential customers only. Cancel anytime. A valid card is required; a temporary credit hold may apply during trial. Local channels vary by market. Blackout restrictions apply. Select sales channels only. Restrictions apply.
** This will not replace any existing Disney+, Hulu, ESPN, or Disney bundle subscription you may already have. All other accounts must be managed separately. You must remain on an eligible plan to retain your offer.
Regional restrictions may apply. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.
— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories on The Big Lead —
Continue reading...
