The Minnesota Wild was able to win Game 3 of their playoff series with the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday night and a big reason was the play of Marcus Foligno. The game was a sign of when Foligno plays at his best and sent a message to the Avalanche that they’ll see a more physical team for the rest of the series. But it also caused Colorado to counter with defenseman Josh Manson potentially making his way back to the lineup.
The Athletic’s Peter Baugh noted that Manson, who made the trip to St. Paul for Game 3 but did not play, was off the ice before the other defenseman and didn’t skate with the scratches during Monday’s practice. Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar also confirmed that Manson would be available for Game 4 but did not say whether he would play.
With Manson’s role in practice and Bednar’s comments, it appears the Avalanche will be getting one of their most physical players back for Game 4 and it’s a direct response to how Foligno manhandled Colorado in Game 3.
Josh Manson’s return could give Wild heavyweight battle for Game 4
After having just three hits in each of the first two games of the series, Foligno was a wrecking ball with a team-high nine hits in the 5-1 victory in Game 3. It also was emblematic of Foligno’s postseason performance with 6.4 hits per game in the five Wild victories compared to four hits per game in their three losses.
This is part of the way the Wild want to play in the postseason and it’s why they were able to dispatch the Stars in six games. By the end of the series, Dallas was worn down and had a long list of injuries they were managing to keep up with the Wild and it’s the type of game Minnesota will try to replicate when they host the Avs in Game 4.
Of course, Colorado will try to up its physicality by welcoming Manson back to the lineup. A Stanley Cup champion from the Avalanche’s run to the title in 2022, Manson is a wrecking ball in his own right with 174 hits during the regular season and 490 hits over the past three seasons.
Manson also brings more than just a big hitter to the Colorado blue line. His 99 blocked shots were second on the Avalanche behind Cale Makar’s 117 and should make things more difficult for the Wild, who were able to chase Scott Wedgewood and may have forced the Avalanche to replace him with Mackenzie Blackwood for Game 4.
While Manson is an imposing presence, he has not played since a Game 3 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on April 23 due to an upper body injury and could offer a response to Minnesota’s play in their lone victory of the series.
But on the other side, the Wild have plenty of big bodies to step up to the challenge. Yakov Trenin led the NHL with 413 hits during the regular season and has 39 hits in the playoffs despite missing time due to an upper body injury in the opening round against the Stars. Nick Foligno and Michael McCarron have also been solid trade acquisitions that have upped the Wild’s physicality and could all be factors if the Avalanche get one of their most imposing players back.
Of course, the Wild need to play smart and Foligno’s lone gaffe was a cross-checking penalty that led to Colorado’s lone goal in Game 3. But the Wild have the personnel to adapt if the Avalanche want to play a heavier game and it could play out as Minnesota tries to even the series on Monday night.
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