DENVER – It’s almost statistically impossible for Minnesota to catch Colorado in the standings with a month to play. But between now and the night the Avalanche hang their seemingly inevitable “2026 Central Division Champions” banner at Ball Arena, the Wild are determined to make life difficult for their historic rivals.
Colorado Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood, right, stops a shot by Minnesota Wild right wing Mats Zuccarello in the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 8, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
On Sunday afternoon, Nathan MacKinnon scored the decisive goal in a shootout, lifting the Avalanche to a 3-2 come-from-behind win over the Wild in their final meeting of the regular season.
Kirill Kaprizov and Nico Sturm scored in the third period for the Wild, who trailed 1-0, led 2-1, then managed to get a point.
Jesper Wallstedt was stellar in goal for Minnesota, with 33 saves in the loss. And when it was over, after splitting the season series, the Wild said they would be happy to see Colorado again in May.
“I thought all the games were competitive and the season series was split, so tonight was no different,” Wild coach John Hynes said. “It was two teams going at it pretty hard, and it’s fun to be a part of games like that.”
Minnesota’s penalty killers had a busy night, keeping the high-powered Avalanche offense off the board during a collective 10 minutes with a Wild player in the box.
“I really feel like I got right into the game with a power play right away, the altitude,” Wallstedt said. “It felt like I got going right away, in a good way.”
MacKinnon was called for interference with 63 seconds left in overtime, giving the Wild a 4-on-3 advantage. Had this been international hockey, MacKinnon’s penalty would have made him ineligible to participate in the shootout. But he was able to take part under NHL rules.
The first period was all about the goalies, specifically Wallstedt, who had 14 saves and kept the Avalanche from grabbing the momentum despite a pair of Wild penalties that had Colorado’s power play clicking. Minnesota lost third liner Danila Yurov for a few shifts when he took a puck to the head and left the bench, but he returned to finish the period.
After killing another penalty early in the middle frame, the Wild power play finally got a chance when defenseman Zach Bogosian took a high stick to the face. Minnesota managed just one shot on the man-advantage – a dangerous Vladimir Tarasenko backhander that Colorado goalie Scott Wedgewood turned aside.
The Avalanche finally broke the scoreless deadlock late in the second when Minnesota turned over the puck behind its own net and Nazem Kadri – acquired at the trade deadline from Calgary – fed a pass to MacKinnon. The quick shot that fooled Wallstedt was MacKinnon’s NHL-leading 43rd of the season.
The goal seemed to wake up the visitors, who made a late second period push, which included Matt Boldy’s shot from the high slot that beat Wedgewood but clanked the left goalpost.
For the period, Minnesota outshot Colorado 14-12, but MacKinnon’s shot was the only one that mattered.
The Wild, who have not been shut out this season, evened the score early in the third on their second power play of the game. Kaprizov’s low shot beat Wedgewood on the stick side with Joel Eriksson Ek creating traffic at the front of the net.
With Colorado on its fourth power play a short time later, Brock Faber’s hard shot from behind his own net caused a Colorado turnover in the neutral zone, springing Sturm on a shorthanded breakaway and giving the visitors the lead.
“It was a really good effort, and it’s two great hockey teams playing against each other,” said Sturm, who had not scored since a Jan. 2 game at Anaheim. “Tonight we got the short end, but I think it was a commendable effort.”
After Colorado tied the game again, the Wild had a late third period power play, but Wedgewood kept it knotted this time. He finished with 32 saves for the Avalanche, and allowed only a Boldy goal in the shootout.
It was the Wild debut for Nick Foligno, acquired at the trade deadline from Chicago, and currently the only Foligno playing for the Wild, while his younger brother Marcus recovers from a lower body injury that has him out week to week.
Nick started on the fourth line wing, with Sturm on the other wing and Michael McCarron at center. Newcomers Robby Fabbri and Jeff Petry were healthy scratches.
The Wild next return to St. Paul and will play six of their next seven at Grand Casino Arena, starting Tuesday night versus the Utah Mammoth.
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