The Colorado Avalanche are rolling into the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs with serious momentum, having swept the Los Angeles Kings in the opening series. While the 4-0 scoreline suggests dominance, the Kings pushed hard in the first three games before fading in Game 4. Now, the Avalanche face a much stiffer test against a Minnesota Wild team that just ended a decade-long playoff drought.
Colorado kicks off the Western Conference second-round series Sunday at Ball Arena, aiming for their second championship in five years. The Wild, meanwhile, finally broke through by dispatching the Dallas Stars in six games—their first series victory since 2015. It’s a matchup that pits the league’s top offense against a hungry, resilient Minnesota squad.
The Avalanche led the NHL in scoring during the regular season with 298 goals, but their offense was slow to ignite against the Kings, managing just two goals in each of the first two games. Then the floodgates opened: Colorado erupted for nine goals over the final two contests, including a 5-1 series-clinching win in Game 4. Nathan MacKinnon, who won the Maurice Richard Trophy with a career-high 53 goals, was held quiet early but broke through with two goals in that decisive victory.
MacKinnon, captain Gabriel Landeskog, and Artturi Lehkonen each tallied four points in the series, with all three scoring twice and adding two assists. Nicolas Roy and defenseman Cale Makar also chipped in with two goals apiece. Colorado is now looking to reach the Western Conference Final for the first time in four postseasons, a drought that feels much longer given their championship pedigree.
Minnesota’s path was far more dramatic. After falling behind 2-1 to Dallas, the Wild rattled off three straight wins to secure their first series victory in 10 attempts. Matt Boldy has been the story so far, scoring twice in the clinching 5-2 Game 6 win and leading all postseason scorers with six goals—matching his career-high 42 from the regular season. Boldy and Kirill Kaprizov have combined for nine points each, while defenseman Quinn Hughes has added eight.
However, the Wild will face some injury concerns heading into Game 1. Defenseman Jonas Brodin has been ruled out with a lower-body injury, and forward Joel Eriksson Ek—who posted three goals and two assists against the Stars—is questionable with a leg ailment. Those absences could prove critical against a deep and explosive Colorado lineup.
The Avalanche and Wild split their four regular-season meetings, setting the stage for a tightly contested series. With MacKinnon’s star power and Minnesota’s newfound confidence, this second-round clash promises plenty of drama for hockey fans.