Avalanche vs. Wild Game 4: Avs rally, take stranglehold on series despite butt-end controversy

The Colorado Avalanche entered Game 4 on Monday night against the Minnesota Wild, looking to take a 3-1 series lead. And that’s exactly what they did. The Avs got a crucial goal from 20-goal scorer Parker Kelly to take a 3-2 lead midway through the third period.

That was enough for Colorado. Two empty-net goals, one from Nathan MacKinnon and the other from 200 feet away by Brock Nelson, put the game on ice.

The 5-2 win was much tighter than the score suggested, but was certainly enough to get the job done. Now, the Avalanche are in the driver’s seat, putting themselves in a position to close out their second-round series in the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs on Wednesday night back home.

Manson wreaked havoc in return

The Avalanche vs. Wild Game 4 saw the return of Josh Manson. The veteran blueliner had not played since leaving Game 3 against the LA Kings in the first period.

Manson returned on Monday night, and boy did he make an impact right away. In particular, Manson’s scuffle with Wild forward Michael McCarron kicked off what became a highly physical game.

During the wrestling match on the ice, Manson appeared to have hit McCarron with the butt-end of his stick. It’s not totally clear where Manson catches McCarron. But it does look like it was somewhere in the neck or eye.

However, there was some controversy as the Wild wanted to get a major penalty for the alleged hit with the butt-end. The on-ice officials ruled a double-minor. The situation proved costly as Quinn Hughes made a fantastic play that allowed Danila Yurov to notch his first goal of the postseason.

That put the Wild up 1-0, a lead that would hold until the beginning of the second period when Nazem Kadri tied the game with a power play goal of his own. Kadri’s goal proved another crucial point about Monday night’s win.

Depth scoring stepped up big time for Avalanche

Two Avalanche players picked a heck of a time to get their first goal of the postseason. Ross Colton, who had been a healthy scratch earlier in the playoffs, got a huge third-period goal to give the Avs a 2-1 lead early in the second. While Minnesota tied the game less than three minutes later, it was Kelly who broke the tie.

Up until that point, none of the Avalanche’s big guns had gotten on the scoresheet. Only Martin Necas had registered an assist on Kadri’s power play goal in the second.

That situation proved just how deep Colorado truly is. Even when the Wild managed to keep the top six in check, it was the bottom six that killed them.

Blackwood sharp in first postseason start

MacKenzie Blackwood made his first postseason start on Monday night. And boy, did he manage to keep the ship afloat. Blackwood made 19 saves to hold the fort for the win.

While the regular-season starter didn’t face a barrage of shots, he did buy the Avalanche enough time to break the game open.

Blackwood has most assuredly bought himself the start for Game 5 on Wednesday night. Given Jared Bednar’s penchant to go with the hot hand will likely mean Blackwood will be the starter until further notice.

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