Avalanche bounce back to beat Wild 5-2, grab 3-1 series lead

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Ross Colton and Parker Kelly each scored in the third period for Colorado, an opportune time for their first goals of the post-season as the high-scoring Avalanche snapped back from a mid-series lull and beat the Minnesota Wild 5-2 in Game 4 on Monday to grab a 3-1 lead in the second round of the NHL playoffs.

Mackenzie Blackwood made 19 saves in his first start this post-season after relieving Scott Wedgewood during a 5-1 loss in Game 3 on Saturday, and the Avalanche moved within one win of taking the first spot in the Western Conference final. Game 5 of the best-of-seven series will be in Denver on Wednesday.

Nazem Kadri scored on a power play in the second period, and Nathan MacKinnon — who had a brief absence to fix a bloody nose from a puck to the face — and Brock Nelson added empty-net goals in the final minute.

Nico Sturm of Minnesota tied the game 2-2 with his first goal of the post-season about two minutes after Colton put the Avalanche up by one. The Wild were outshot 20-5 over roughly the first half of the game by an energized Colorado offence.