Colorado swept the Los Angeles Kings in the first round, closing the best‑of‑seven in four games. The Kings held a tight pace through three contests, but fatigue showed. Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon finished with 53 goals, securing the Maurice Richard Trophy, while Gabriel Landeskog and Artturi Lehkonen tallied four points each.

The Wild, who snapped a six‑year playoff drought by beating Dallas in six, now face Colorado at Ball Arena. Minnesota’s Matt Boldy matched a postseason high with six goals, and Kirill Kaprizov also notched nine points. Jonas Brodin misses Game 1 with a lower‑body injury, tightening the Wild’s defense.

Scott Wedgewood posted a 1.21 GAA and .950 SV% in five goals allowed on 101 shots, anchoring the Ducks’ defense. The Wild’s top trio—Boldy, Kaprizov and Quinn Hughes—tied for second in the postseason with 23 goals.

With a league‑leading 298 goals, the Avalanche are favorites at -205 to -250 odds, while Minnesota trades at +170 to +200. A strong defensive effort against the Wild’s 23‑goal offense will be decisive. Colorado’s return to the Western Conference Final after four postseasons positions them for a potential second title in five years.