The Minnesota Wild face a formidable challenge against the Colorado Avalanche, who are considered a near-perfect team in the NHL. On May 2, 2026, both teams gear up for their playoff series after intense first-round battles.
The Wild finally broke through, defeating the Dallas Stars in six games. They hadn’t advanced past the first round since the 2014-15 season. Matt Boldy reflected on their resilience: “You can’t change the past and I think that’s something we handled very well going down 2-1 (against the Stars).” With a decisive 5-2 victory in Game 6, they outscored Dallas 14-4 at five-on-five.
Meanwhile, the Avalanche cruised through their first-round matchup, winning the Presidents’ Trophy for having the best record in the NHL. Their plus-82 Net Rating dwarfs the Wild’s +45. Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar lead a well-rounded attack that dominated five-on-five play.
The Wild’s trio of stars—Boldy, Kirill Kaprizov, and Quinn Hughes—will need to shine brighter than ever. Yet, their center depth is lacking compared to Colorado’s. Jesper Wallstedt has stepped up in goaltending after Filip Gustavsson struggled early on.
Key statistics:
- The Avalanche scored an impressive 3.8 goals per 60 minutes on power plays.
- The Wild allowed 15.6 goals against per 60 minutes on penalty kills.
- Joel Eriksson Ek posted a remarkable 61.6% expected goals share against Wyatt Johnston in Round 1.
- The Avalanche had a dominant five-on-five scoring edge of 9-2 over their previous opponents.
Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes are often regarded as two of the best defensemen in the world—this matchup will showcase their skills on a grand stage. As both teams prepare for this pivotal series, it’s clear that every moment counts.
The stakes couldn’t be higher; this playoff series could define both franchises’ legacies in pursuit of the Stanley Cup.