The Minnesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche have reached a critical point in their Western Conference semifinal series as they prepare for Game 4 on Monday night. The Avalanche raced out to a 2-0 series lead with a pair of dominant performances in Denver, but the Wild recaptured some of the momentum with a 5-1 win in Game 3.
With the chance for the Wild to tie the series and the Avalanche to come one step closer to advancing to the Western Conference Finals, each coaching decision will be critical down the stretch. And the Wild may be watching Bednar make a similar mistake they made earlier in the series, replacing Scott Wedgewood with Mackenzie Blackwood in net for Game 4.
According to Evan Rawal of The Denver Gazette, Blackwood was warming up in Colorado’s starter net during Monday’s practice. While it could be an effort to throw the Wild off the scent since the practice took place at Grand Casino Arena, it could also be duplicating a game of goalie roulette that may have cost Minnesota a game earlier in the series.
Avalanche’s goalie roulette could open door for Wild in Game 4
The Wild found themselves in a similar situation the Avalanche are facing when they lost the opening game of the series. Jesper Wallstedt gave up eight goals in the 9-6 loss and while the performance was disappointing, the defense in front of him gave up chances like 2-for-1s at Tom Reid’s Hockey Pub and it was enough to persuade John Hynes to start Filip Gustavsson in Game 2.
Gustavsson also fell victim to poor defense in front of him, allowing four goals on 22 shots in a loss that put the Wild in a 2-0 series deficit. But it was also over management considering Wallstedt had posted a .924 save percentage during the Wild’s first round series against the Dallas Stars. Wallstedt returned to the net and stopped 35 of 36 shots in Game 3, but it’s fair to wonder if Minnesota could have stolen a game if Hynes didn’t make that move.
Of course, the Avalanche could return the favor on Monday. Wedgewood gave up three goals on 12 shots before getting pulled in the second period of a Game 3 loss but has had a strong overall season, allowing a 2.02 goals against average and .921 save percentage during the regular season and a 2.44 GAA with .911 save percentage during the playoffs.
Even after a rough game, it would make sense to roll Wedgewood out and see what happens, especially considering Blackwood was the inferior goalie during the regular season, posting a 2.51 GAA and .904 save percentage in 39 games. The 29-year-old was also shaky during last year’s playoffs, allowing 19 goals and an .892 save percentage in last year’s first round loss to the Stars and it could be a desperate move by Bednar to make sure he gets out of St. Paul with a 3-1 lead.
Then again, this could open the same door that the Wild opened by changing goalies after Game 1 and could help Minnesota even the series as they prepare for a massive Game 4.
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