March 8, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) celebrates a goal with left wing Nazem Kadri (91), defender Cale Makar (8), and defender Devon Toews (7) during the second game against the Minnesota Wild at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Image Nathan MacKinnon defeated Jesper Wallstedt in the fourth round of a shootout, and the Colorado Avalanche beat the Minnesota Wild 3-2 on Sunday in Denver.
The Avalanche have won five straight and are in second place in a shootout, moving them to a 10-point lead over Minnesota atop the Central Division. Colorado rallied to beat Dallas in a shootout Friday night.
MacKinnon and Nicolas Roy scored in regulation, Val Nichushkin added a goal in the shootout and Scott Wedgewood stopped two shots to add to his 32 shots in the shootout for the Avalanche.
Colorado announced before the game that captain Gabriel Landeskog would be out for several weeks with a lower body injury. Nazem Kadri, acquired from Calgary at Friday’s trade deadline, had an assist in his first game against the Avalanche since Game 6 of the 2022 Stanley Cup Final.
Kirill Kaprizov and Nico Sturm scored, Matt Boldy added a goal in the shootout and Wallstedt made 34 saves in overtime for Minnesota. He also made two more stops in the shootout.
Nick Foligno made his Wild debut Friday via trade with Chicago.
After a scoreless first period, Colorado broke through in the second when Kadri stole a pass behind the Minnesota net and fed MacKinnon in the right circle.
MacKinnon beat Wallstedt with a shot over his left shoulder at 12:19 for his NHL-leading 43rd goal of the season.
The Wild upped the pressure and nearly tied the score late in the second period when Boldy’s shot hit the post, then tied it early in the third period.
Four seconds after Ross Colton was called for a slash, Kaprizov’s shot from above the right circle bounced off the stick of Colorado defenseman Brent Burns and past Wedgewood with 4:17 remaining.
The Avalanche went on a power play a minute later, but it was Minnesota that got the win when Sturm scored on a breakaway with 7:01 to play. It was the 11th shorthanded goal allowed by Colorado this season, an NHL record.
The Avalanche tied the score at 12:39 when Roy put Brett Kulak’s shot past Wallstedt.
–Field level media
