Wild surrender nine goals in 9-6 playoff loss to Avalanche despite late rally

Key facts

• Colorado Avalanche defeated Minnesota Wild 9-6 in Game 1 of the second-round series at Ball Arena on May 3, 2026.
• The Wild allowed nine goals, the most they have ever conceded in a playoff game, and the Avalanche scored a franchise playoff record nine goals.
• Minnesota played without defenseman Jonas Brodin and forward Joel Eriksson Ek, two of their best defensive players.
• Jesper Wallstedt, Minnesota's goaltender, allowed a career-high eight goals; his previous high was seven in his NHL debut in January 2024.
• The 15 total goals tied for fifth-most in a Stanley Cup playoff game in NHL history.
• Cale Makar scored two goals for Colorado, including the game-sealer one minute after Mats Zuccarello pulled the Wild within one at 3:59 of the third period.
• Colorado improved to 5-0 in the 2026 postseason with the win.
• The Wild rallied from a 3-0 first-period deficit to tie the score at 4 and briefly took a 5-4 lead on Marcus Foligno's short-handed goal.

Defensive absences expose Wild in high-scoring opener

The Minnesota Wild entered Ball Arena on Sunday night without two of their most reliable defensive players, and the Colorado Avalanche made them pay. Missing defenseman Jonas Brodin and forward Joel Eriksson Ek, the Wild surrendered seven five-on-five goals and nine total in a 9-6 loss that set a franchise record for most goals allowed in a playoff game. The Avalanche, meanwhile, scored a franchise playoff-best nine goals, and the combined 15 goals tied for fifth-most in a Stanley Cup playoff game in NHL history. Jesper Wallstedt, who had been a standout for Minnesota in the first round against the Dallas Stars, allowed a career-high eight goals. His previous high was seven, set in his NHL debut in January 2024. The Wild had given up just four five-on-five goals in six games against the Stars, but Colorado generated scoring chances and odd-man rushes with alarming frequency.

Colorado storms back after Wild erase three-goal deficit

The Avalanche seized a 3-0 lead in the first period, but the Wild chipped away to tie the score at 4. Minnesota even took a short-lived lead on Marcus Foligno's short-handed goal, but Colorado tied it just 1:09 later on a goal by Devon Toews. From there, the Avalanche stormed to victory, with Cale Makar scoring his second of the game and Nazem Kadri adding another early in the third period to make it 7-5. An empty-netter pushed the final margin to 9-6. Had the Wild completed the comeback, it would have been the first time in franchise history they rallied from a three-goal deficit to win a playoff game. "If you scripted that one, I don't know how you do," Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. "I can't explain it."

Zuccarello's late goal not enough as Makar answers immediately

Wild winger Mats Zuccarello pulled Minnesota within one goal with 3:59 remaining in the third period, but Cale Makar responded just one minute later with his second goal of the game to restore the two-goal cushion. "It was 9-6, but we were one goal back with three minutes left. So even though we played bad defensively, we still stayed in it until the end," Zuccarello said. "But, for sure, I think we all were not happy about letting in so many goals. We have to help out Wally. Not good enough." Zuccarello's assessment underscored the Wild's defensive struggles without Brodin and Eriksson Ek. The team had relied heavily on those two during the first-round series against Dallas, and their absence was keenly felt against a Colorado team that showcased its scoring depth.

Avalanche depth on display after low-scoring first round

For Colorado, the offensive explosion was a dramatic shift from their first-round series against the Los Angeles Kings, which was characterized by tight checking and low scores. The Avalanche loved their defensive game in that series, but the Wild made it much harder to defend effectively in Game 1. "I don't think we've done that all year, but they came out strong," Zuccarello said, referring to Colorado's relentless attack. The Avalanche improved to 5-0 in the 2026 postseason, and the win demonstrated the depth that coach Jared Bednar can deploy. With Makar, Kadri, Toews, and others contributing, Colorado showed it can win in multiple ways.

Series schedule and what lies ahead for both teams

Game 2 of the best-of-seven series is scheduled for Tuesday, May 5, at 6 p.m. at Ball Arena, broadcast on ESPN. The series then shifts to Minnesota for Game 3 on Saturday, May 9, at 7 p.m. on TNT, truTV, and HBO MAX. Game 4 is set for Monday, May 11, with additional games scheduled as needed through May 17. The Wild will need to tighten their defensive play and hope for the return of Brodin and Eriksson Ek to have a chance against a confident Avalanche team. For Colorado, the challenge will be maintaining their offensive rhythm while not underestimating a Minnesota team that showed resilience by rallying from a three-goal deficit.

The bottom line

• Minnesota's defensive absences (Brodin, Eriksson Ek) were exploited by Colorado's depth, leading to a franchise-worst nine goals allowed in a playoff game.
• Jesper Wallstedt's career-high eight goals allowed marked a sharp decline from his first-round performance.
• Colorado's 9-6 win was their fifth straight postseason victory and featured a franchise playoff record for goals scored.
• The combined 15 goals tied for fifth-most in a Stanley Cup playoff game in NHL history.
• Despite the loss, Minnesota showed fight by erasing a 3-0 deficit and taking a brief lead before Colorado pulled away.
• The series continues with Game 2 on May 5 in Denver, where the Wild must adjust to avoid falling into a 2-0 hole.