ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Colorado Avalanche will play Game 4 of their second-rounder series against the Minnesota Wild on Monday without defenseman Sam Malinski and forward Artturi Lehkonen. Neither came onto the ice for pregame warmups.

Both are significant losses for Colorado. Malinski had a breakout season, finishing with 40 points in 82 games and leading all NHL defenseman with a plus-43 rating. He’s played on Colorado’s second pair with Brett Kulak these playoffs, averaging 19:59 a game. The Minnesota native scored the first goal of the series in Game 1.

Lehkonen, an elite forechecker, has played in Colorado’s top six during the playoffs. He had 48 points in 70 games this season and has six points in seven games in the playoffs.

Josh Manson, injured in Game 3 of the Los Angeles series, is back in Colorado’s lineup, and Jack Ahcan, who spent most of the season with AHL Colorado, will make his playoff debut. They will be together on the third pair, with Brent Burns sliding up to play with Kulak. Nick Blankenburg, who has averaged only 9:26 of ice time per game in Manson’s stead, will draw out.

Joel Kiviranta enters the lineup for Lehkonen. He played the first two games of the Avs’ first-round series against the Los Angeles Kings before coming out for Ross Colton. He suffered an undisclosed injury at some point, but coach Jared Bednar said Monday morning he would be an option for Game 4.

As expected, Mackenzie Blackwood led the Avalanche onto the ice for warmups and will start in net.

#Avs lines sans Lehkonen, Malinski

Landeskog-MacKinnon-Nečas
Colton-Nelson-Roy
Nichushkin-Kadri-O’Connor
Kelly-Drury-Kiviranta

Toews-Makar
Kulak-Burns
Ahcan-Manson

Blackwood
Wedgewood

Biggest test of Colorado’s depth yet these playoffs.

— Peter Baugh (@Peter_Baugh) May 11, 2026