Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon has been in dominant form during another postseason campaign and can match a franchise record in Game 5 against the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday. He is two points away from recording his fifth playoff series with 10-plus points. Joe Sakic is currently the only player in Avalanche/Nordiques history to achieve that feat. MacKinnon has scored once in all four games against Minnesota, adding four assists. Overall, he is tied for fifth in scoring this postseason, with 12 points (six goals, six assists) in nine games. 11 of his points have come in the past five games.

Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Poehling (upper body) won't play in Game 6 against the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday, Zach Cavanagh of The Sporting Tribune reports. The 27-year-old was injured in Game 5 on a big hit by Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb. With four goals, Poehling is tied for second on his team this postseason and has added one assist in 11 outings. Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville is considering using an extra defenseman in Thursday's game, which suggests Radko Gudas (lower body) might finally be ready for his series debut. Among forwards, Jansen Harkins and Frank Vatrano are options to fill in for Poehling.

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Sam Malinski (upper body) is not expected to be in the lineup on Wednesday in Game 5 against the Minnesota Wild. An upper-body injury kept Malinski out of Monday's Game 4, and he didn't participate in Wednesday's optional morning skate. Fortunately for the Avalanche, their defense got Josh Manson back on Monday night. He skated on the third defensive pairing with Jack Ahcan, who figures to remain in the lineup in Malinski's absence. While Ahcan had a big year offensively in the AHL this season, he stood out defensively in Game 4, recording three blocks and two hits in 7:07 of action.

Colorado Avalanche winger Artturi Lehkonen (upper body) is unlikely to play in Game 5 against the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday night. He missed Monday's Game 4 with an upper-body injury and wasn't on the ice on Wednesday for an optional morning skate. While Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar said Lehkonen could "possibly" play, along with defenseman Sam Malinski (upper body), it appears unlikely he will return. With Lehkonen unavailable on Monday night, Gabriel Landeskog joined the first line. The Avalanche captain has averaged a point per game through eight postseason outings and will be an even bigger offensive threat as the running mate of Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas.