The Colorado Avalanche defeated the Minnesota Wild 5-2 on May 4, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver to take a 2-0 lead in their first-round playoff series. The Avalanche dominated the game, outshooting the Wild 38-21 and scoring three goals in the second period to break open a 1-1 tie.
Nathan MacKinnon led the way with a goal and two assists, while Cale Makar added a goal and an assist. Mikko Rantanen also scored, and goaltender Alexandar Georgiev made 19 saves for the win. The Wild's goals came from Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy, but they were unable to overcome the Avalanche's offensive pressure.
The series now shifts to St. Paul, Minnesota, for Game 3 on May 6, 2026. The Wild will need to win at home to avoid falling into a 3-0 hole, a deficit from which few teams have recovered in NHL history.
