Avalanche Push Wild to Brink of Elimination with Commanding Game 4 Victory

The Colorado Avalanche secured a pivotal 5-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Monday night, taking a 3-1 lead in their 2025-26 season NHL Playoffs series. Colorado rebounded from a Game 3 loss to reclaim control of the matchup as it heads back to Denver.

The decisive moment

Colorado entered Game 4 needing a definitive response after being dominated in a 5-1 loss just two days prior. The Avalanche established their pace early at Xcel Energy Center, utilizing their speed to counteract Minnesota’s physical home-ice advantage. By jumping out to a lead and refusing to let the Wild climb back into the contest, Colorado effectively reclaimed the series narrative and silenced the St. Paul crowd.

The three-goal margin reflected a disciplined effort from a Colorado squad that has prioritized offensive depth throughout this postseason. Despite playing without key contributors like Artturi Lehkonen and Sam Malinski, the Avalanche defensive rotations held firm during critical stretches of the second and third periods. This victory shifts all the pressure back to Minnesota as the series transitions back to Colorado for a potential clincher.

By the numbers

5-2: The final score that put Colorado in the driver's seat of the series.
3-1: The current series record in favor of the Colorado Avalanche.
15: Total goals scored by Colorado across their three victories in this opening-round matchup.
3: The number of wins Colorado has accumulated in this best-of-7 series.

The Avalanche offense has been the defining story of the series so far, averaging five goals per game in their wins. Minnesota’s defense, which looked stout during their Game 3 victory, was unable to contain the transition game that Colorado utilized to maintain a consistent lead on Monday night.

What it means

The Minnesota Wild are now in a "must-win" scenario for the remainder of the 2025-26 season NHL Playoffs. The loss of veteran leaders Joel Eriksson Ek and Jonas Brodin to day-to-day injuries has clearly impacted the Wild’s ability to shut down Colorado’s top lines. Additionally, the Wild were without Charlie Stramel, who recently signed a three-year entry-level contract extension with the club.

Historically, teams trailing 3-1 in an NHL playoff series face extremely low odds of advancing to the next round. Minnesota will need to find immediate answers for Colorado’s special teams and puck pursuit if they hope to extend their season beyond the next contest. The Avalanche have proven they can win on the road under pressure, showcasing a resilient roster depth that has defined their postseason run.

What to watch next

All eyes turn to Denver for Game 5, where the Colorado Avalanche have the opportunity to eliminate their division rivals in front of their home fans. Minnesota must find a way to secure a win on the road to force a return trip to St. Paul for a Game 6, making health and lineup adjustments the primary storylines to follow over the next 48 hours.