The Colorado Avalanche finally tasted defeat in the 2026 playoffs, falling 5-1 to the Minnesota Wild in Game 3 at St. Paul. After a dominant start to the postseason, the Avs looked uncharacteristically sluggish, trailing 2-0 by the end of the first period—only the third time they've been behind all playoffs.

Head coach Jared Bednar made a bold move after Minnesota's third goal, pulling starting goaltender Scott Wedgewood in favor of Mackenzie Blackwood to spark a rally. The change seemed to work briefly when Nathan MacKinnon buried a goal in the second period to cut the deficit to two. But any momentum was short-lived, as Brock Faber answered immediately for the Wild, restoring a three-goal cushion. Minnesota sealed the win with an empty-net goal late in the third period.

Despite the lopsided loss, the Avs still hold a commanding 2-1 series lead in this best-of-seven matchup. They'll have a chance to take a stranglehold on the series and move within one win of the Conference Finals when Game 4 drops the puck on Monday at 6 p.m. Mountain Time.

For fans rocking their Avalanche gear, this is the moment to double down on playoff energy—the team has shown resilience all season, and a bounce-back performance is just what the Mile High City expects.