| Scoring | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| COL | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| MIN | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
Wild, Second Round Game 3, beat Avalanche 5–1 at Xcel Energy Center on May 9, 2026.
The Minnesota Wild pulled off a decisive 5-1 victory against the Colorado Avalanche in Game 3 of the Second Round. With this win, the series stands at 2-1 in favor of the Avalanche. The Wild's victory relieves some pressure as they look to even the series in the upcoming games.
The game's momentum swung heavily in favor of the Wild during the first period. Kirill Kaprizov opened the scoring at 15:11, followed by a quick second goal from Quinn Hughes just over a minute later. By the time Ryan Hartman scored early in the second period at 4:23, the Wild had established a commanding 3-0 lead. The Avalanche's Nathan MacKinnon netted a goal shortly after, bringing the score to 3-1, but the Wild quickly responded with another goal from Brock Faber, making it 4-1 just 18 seconds later. This rapid sequence ensured the Wild maintained control and set the tone for the rest of the game.
Kirill Kaprizov was instrumental for the Wild, registering a goal and an assist, demonstrating his playmaking ability. Quinn Hughes also proved vital, scoring a goal and assisting on another, showing his impact on both ends of the ice. Ryan Hartman and Brock Faber added goals that solidified the Wild's offensive surge, while Mats Zuccarello contributed with two assists. The team's discipline paid off as they capitalized on power-play opportunities, scoring two goals on three chances.
On the Avalanche side, Nathan MacKinnon managed to find the back of the net but it wasn't enough to spark a comeback. Gabriel Landeskog and Nazem Kadri assisted on MacKinnon's goal, showcasing the Avalanche's potential to attack, but overall, they struggled to convert their chances effectively.
With the series now at 2-1, the Wild will be looking to build on this momentum and even the series in Game 4. The pressure is on the Avalanche, who will need to regroup and find their offensive rhythm to maintain their series lead. The next game promises to be an electrifying matchup as both teams vie for supremacy in this tightly contested playoff series.
Wild won 5–1.
The final score was Avalanche 1, Wild 5.
Nathan MacKinnon.
Brock Faber, Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy, Quinn Hughes, Ryan Hartman.
Mackenzie Blackwood made 12 saves on 13 shots (.923 save percentage).
Jesper Wallstedt made 35 saves on 36 shots (.972 save percentage).
At Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, the Wild home rink.
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