Avalanche jump to 3-1 series lead after Game 4 win over Wild

The Colorado Avalanche moved within one win of the Western Conference final on May 11, beating the Minnesota Wild 5-2 in Game 4 at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul. Parker Kelly scored the tiebreaking goal at 11:32 of the third period, and Nathan MacKinnon and Brock Nelson added empty-net goals in the final minute. The result gave Colorado a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven second-round series. Game 5 is scheduled for Wednesday at Ball Arena in Denver. ### How did Colorado turn a tied game into a 3-1 series edge? Parker Kelly’s goal at 11:32 of the third period broke a 2-2 tie after Wild defenseman Jake Middleton turned the puck over in the defensive zone. Jack Drury recovered the puck and fed Kelly for a one-timer from the slot, according to NHL.com’s game recap. (nhl.com) Nathan MacKinnon scored into an empty net at 19:27 of the third, and Brock Nelson added another empty-netter at 19:52. Earlier, Nazem Kadri tied the game on a power play in the second period, and Ross Colton gave Colorado a 2-1 lead at 6:56 of the third before Nico Sturm answered for Minnesota at 9:15. ### Why was Kelly’s goal the turning point in Game 4? (nhl.com) Kelly’s score was his first career Stanley Cup playoff goal, and it came less than 2 1/2 minutes after Sturm had pulled Minnesota level. The sequence restored Colorado’s lead for good and capped a third period in which the Avalanche scored four times. (nhl.com) Gabriel Landeskog said after the game that Colorado kept believing it would break through. “Even when they tied it up, there was a sense of belief that we were just gonna keep rolling,” Landeskog said, according to the Avalanche’s team site. ### What did Colorado get from its goaltending change? Mackenzie Blackwood made 19 saves in his first start of the 2026 postseason for Colorado. (nhl.com) NHL.com said it was his first game action since April 14, after he stopped 12 of 13 shots in relief of Scott Wedgewood in Game 3. Jared Bednar said Blackwood gave Colorado what it needed in the crease. “He was great,” the Avalanche coach said, according to Colorado’s team site, adding that Blackwood had prepared during the layoff and “played a great game for us.” (nhl.com) ### What went wrong for Minnesota after tying the game? Danila Yurov opened the scoring at 9:46 of the first period with his first career playoff goal, tipping in Brock Faber’s shot on a power play. (nhl.com) Nico Sturm later tied the game 2-2 at 9:15 of the third, but Minnesota could not hold the level score through the middle of the period. Jesper Wallstedt finished with 29 saves. (nhl.com) Matt Boldy said the Wild did not fully match their preferred style. “I don't think we played fully to our identity,” Boldy said, according to NHL.com, adding that Minnesota now has to “go there and win a game.” ### What does the series look like heading into Game 5? The Avalanche are one win away from reaching the Western Conference final, according to NHL.com’s recap of Game 4. (nhl.com) Colorado entered Game 4 as the No. 1 seed from the Central Division, while Minnesota was the No. 3 seed. Game 5 is set for Wednesday in Denver at Ball Arena, with the Wild facing elimination. (nhl.com) NHL.com’s schedule page shows the series continuing only if Minnesota extends it, with later dates reserved for Games 6 and 7 if necessary.