Wild defeat Avalanche, 5-1, to take Game 3

ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Wild finally gave the Avalanche their first loss of the playoffs.

After returning home from Colorado empty-handed, the Wild came out of a three-day break with their most quintessential effort of the series, running away for a 5-1 victory on Saturday night at a raucous Grand Casino Arena to pick up their first win of the second round and snap the Avalanche's six-game streak.

Colorado leads the best-of-seven, 2-1, going into Game 4 Monday night back in St. Paul.

The Wild were in charge from the beginning and never surrendered control: Kirill Kaprizov kicked off a three-point night with his fourth goal of the postseason, a shot he roofed over Avalanche goalie Scott Wedgewood late in the first period after blowing by the Colorado defense.

Quinn Hughes capitalized against a stickless Wedgewood 1:33 later during a 4-on-3 Wild power play before a Ryan Hartman deflection, also on the power play, chased Wedgewood from the game early in the second period after he gave up three goals on 12 shots.

The Avalanche did get one goal back on the power play, when Nathan MacKinnon pounced on a loose puck after Daemon Hunt pushed Gabriel Landeskog into Wild goalie Jesper Wallstedt, but the Wild penalty kill was otherwise spotless.

The Wild also didn't let Colorado gain momentum from its goal: Vladimir Tarasenko's rebound banked in off Brock Faber's leg just 20 seconds later. Matt Boldy added an empty-netter.

Add in the Wild's 2-for-3 power play, and they finally had the upper-hand on special teams, which they identified as the key to get them back in the series.

Wallstedt, who watched Game 2 as Filip Gustavsson took over the net, made a seamless return, racking up 34 saves.

Copyright 2026 Tribune Content Agency. All Rights Reserved.

This story was originally published May 9, 2026 at 9:05 PM.