Mn Wild Post-Olympic Statement: Matthew Boldy, Filip Gustavsson and Eriksson Ek Power 5-2 Win in Denver

mn wild delivered a statement 5-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche in Denver on 02/26/2026, with Matthew Boldy on the scoresheet, Filip Gustavsson producing a 44-save, ‘gutty’ performance before leaving late with an illness, and Joel Eriksson Ek netting two power-play goals. The result extends Minnesota’s run of strong form and reshapes the division picture with both teams still jockeying for position.

Mn Wild: Bold scoring, empty-net finishes and special-teams impact

Matthew Boldy recorded a goal and was also credited with two empty-net goals in the win; a play listed in the game details also described a shorthanded goal by Matthew Boldy against the Colorado Avalanche. Joel Eriksson Ek scored twice on the power play, and Mats Zuccarello also scored for Minnesota. MIN@COL notations include Zuccarello scoring a goal against Mackenzie Blackwood and Eriksson Ek scoring power-play goals against Mackenzie Blackwood.

Gustavsson’s 44-save, late illness exit

Filip Gustavsson stood tall through most of the night, making 44 saves and anchoring the team during the 5-2 victory. The goaltender battled an illness that manifested late in the game; he could not finish and left with about one minute remaining after throwing up in his crease. The performance was widely described as a gutty effort and was called a backbone performance for the team.

Game flow, penalties and the pivotal two-man advantage

The Avalanche dominated stretches of play, taking nine of the first 10 shots of the game and 11 of the first 13 shots of the third period, but Gustavsson’s saves kept Minnesota in it. Colorado took six of the first seven penalties, giving the Wild a distinct special-teams edge early. A defining sequence came late in the second period: Minnesota was initially set to have 1: 12 of a 5-on-3, but Brent Burns took a delay-of-game penalty four seconds into that advantage, extending Minnesota’s two-man edge to 1: 54. The Wild generated several point-blank looks, including attempts from Quinn and Boldy, and Eriksson Ek finished the sequence on the 5-on-4 when his centering pass/shot through the crease deflected off the pad of Mackenzie Blackwood to make it 2-1.

Standings context and team momentum

The victory moves Minnesota into a stretch of wins and strong results: the club has now won six straight and sits in a 9-1-1 run that includes games before the Olympic break. The Wild are five points behind Colorado for first place in the Central Division; Colorado holds two games in hand. The two teams are scheduled to meet again in Denver next weekend.

Coach and player comments, practice chatter and Olympic aftermath

Coach John Hynes described the performance as a real, gutty effort and noted the late illness for Gustavsson, saying he was not sick earlier in the day and that the illness mostly occurred in the third period. Quinn Hughes praised Gustavsson as a beast and emphasized the importance of scoring on big advantages. Joel Eriksson Ek said that Gustavsson’s saves kept the team calm so they could start building. Matthew Boldy reflected on growth, saying it isn’t about catching people but about growing the game, staying together as a team and finding ways to string wins together.

Leading into the game and after practice, multiple team figures addressed the Olympic break and the club’s carryover. Coach spoke with media following the 5-2 win over the Avs, and Quinn spoke with media following the 5-2 win. Bolds spoke with media following the 5-2 win, and Ekker spoke with media following the 5-2 win. There were comments and conversations about coming out of the break after an Olympic Gold Medal win: the coach spoke on coming out of the break after the Olympic Gold Medal win; Quinn talked about the Olympic Gold Medal win ahead of the match against the Avalanche; Fabes talked about the Olympic Gold Medal win ahead of tonight's match; and Bolds talked about the Olympic Gold Medal win ahead of tonight's match.

Practice coverage included coach chats with media after practice on Wednesday and Gus Bus chatting with media after practice on Wednesday. Coach Jack Capuano spoke to media following practice at TRIA Rink, and Ekky spoke to media following practice at TRIA Rink. These practice interactions preceded the Denver game and the lineup and strategy decisions that followed.

Key stats and what to watch next

• Final score: Minnesota 5, Colorado 2.
• Filip Gustavsson: 44 saves, left with about one minute remaining due to illness.
• Joel Eriksson Ek: two power-play goals.
• Matthew Boldy: goal, two empty-net goals, and a listed shorthanded goal in game details.
• Mats Zuccarello: one goal (scored against Mackenzie Blackwood).
• Penalty sequence: extended 5-on-3 for roughly 1: 54 after a four-second delay-of-game penalty by Brent Burns.

Details noted here are drawn from game and practice reporting tied to the team’s post-Olympic schedule and the Denver matchup. Recent updates indicate player availability and line usage may evolve as the club prepares for the rematch in Denver next weekend.