Ross Colton and Parker Kelly both found the back of the net in the third period, scoring their first goals of the playoffs at a crucial moment, as the high-powered Colorado Avalanche rebounded from a mid-series slump to defeat the Minnesota Wild 5-2 in Game 4 on Monday night. The win gives the Avalanche a commanding 3-1 lead in the second round of the NHL postseason.
Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 19 shots in his first start of these playoffs, stepping in after replacing Scott Wedgewood during Saturday’s 5-1 loss in Game 3. Colorado now stands one victory away from clinching a spot in the Western Conference finals. Game 5 is set for Wednesday in Denver.
Nazem Kadri scored on a power play in the second period, while Nathan MacKinnon—who briefly left the ice to fix a bloody nose after taking a puck to the face—and Brock Nelson added empty-net goals in the final minute. Minnesota’s Nico Sturm tied the game at 2 with his first postseason goal just about two minutes after Colton had given Colorado a 1-0 lead. The Wild were outshot 20-5 over the first half of the game as the Avalanche’s offense came out energized.
After leading the NHL in goals during the regular season and posting the league’s best record, Colorado scored 14 times over the first two games before Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt shut them down in Game 3. Colton and Kelly became the 15th and 16th different players to score for the Avalanche in just eight playoff games this spring.
Rookie Danila Yurov scored his first career postseason goal on a deflection midway through the first period for the Wild during a four-minute power play, set up by a double minor penalty on defenseman Josh Manson.
