Avalanche defeat Wild 5-2, tie for third in Central

The Colorado Avalanche secured a crucial 5-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild, pulling even with them in the Central Division standings with 72 points, although the Wild retain the third spot due to having played one less game. The Avalanche's offense surged in the second period, with Jonathan Drouin and Jack Drury scoring within 52 seconds, complemented by two goals from Ross Colton. Nathan MacKinnon continued his scoring streak, assisting on Valeri Nichushkin's goal, marking his return after an injury absence. The Wild, suffering from fatigue after a back-to-back loss, initially led 2-1 but could not maintain momentum in the second period. Adding to their challenges, Minnesota is grappling with injuries to key players including Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek, which has hindered their scoring capacity. This win marks the Avalanche's second in a row as they aim to capitalize on their current homestand.