Mn Wild’s late-game grit reshapes momentum — Boldy, Eriksson Ek and Gustavsson drive a statement 5-2 win in Denver

Who feels it first: the goaltender and the special-teams units. For the mn wild, Thursday night’s 5-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche landed as a jolt — Filip Gustavsson’s 44-save effort and a special-teams surge helped flip a tight game and pushed the club into a multi-game run that tightens the Central Division dynamic. The win arrived immediately after the Olympic break and carries ripple effects for playing time, health management and the standings.

Mn Wild impact: who and how the win matters now

Gustavsson’s performance directly affects roster confidence and the team’s reliance on its starting netminder; Matthew Boldy’s late goals and Joel Eriksson Ek’s power-play finishing sharpen the club’s scoring balance. The immediate impacts: the goaltending depth is tested (Gustavsson battled an illness but delivered), power play execution paid off, and the Wild’s six-game winning streak and 9-1-1 stretch gather momentum heading into a Denver rematch next weekend.

Game snapshot and pivotal plays

The final line: a 5-2 Minnesota victory over the best-in-the-NHL Colorado Avalanche. Filip Gustavsson made 44 saves and was the backbone of the win, but could not finish: he left with about one minute left after throwing up in his crease and battled an illness that manifested late in the game, mostly in the third period; he had not been sick earlier in the day. Joel Eriksson Ek scored two goals, both on the power play, and Matt(t) Boldy delivered two empty-netters, one of which was shorthanded. Mats Zuccarello also scored for Minnesota, with several of the Wild’s goals coming against Avalanche goalie Mackenzie Blackwood.

Colorado’s early pressure was fierce — they took nine of the first 10 shots and 11 of the first 13 in the third — but Gustavsson kept Minnesota within reach. The Wild’s major special-teams sequence began as a 5-on-3 scheduled for 1: 12, but after Brent Burns took a delay-of-game penalty four seconds into that sequence, Minnesota ended up with 1: 54 of a two-man advantage. Head coach John Hynes called a timeout during the stretch (partly to rest a top unit that had been out 48 seconds and partly to re-state 5-on-3 setups), and Eriksson Ek finished off a play on the ensuing advantage: his centering pass/shot through the crease went in off Mackenzie Blackwood to give Minnesota a 2-1 lead.

Voices and media moments across the week

Postgame and pregame media interactions were frequent: the head coach spoke with media following the 5-2 win; Quinn (noted in context as Quinn Hughes) spoke with media following the win and also discussed the Olympic Gold Medal win ahead of the Avalanche match. Matthew Boldy (also referenced as Bolds and Matt Boldy in the notes) and Joel Eriksson Ek (also appearing as Ekker and Ekky in the notes) each spoke with media following the win. Separate practice coverage shows the coach chatting with media after practice on Wednesday, Gus Bus (a moniker for Filip Gustavsson) chatting with media after that practice, and Coach Jack Capuano and Ekky speaking to media following practice at TRIA Rink. Fabes also talked about the Olympic Gold Medal win ahead of the Avalanche game.

Standings, streaks and immediate signals

The Wild have now won six straight and sit inside a 9-1-1 stretch that includes games before the Olympic break. They are five points back of Colorado for first place in the Central Division; the Avalanche hold two games in hand. The teams will meet again in Denver next weekend, offering a quick chance to measure whether this result was an isolated peak or the start of a longer turning point.

• Gustavsson’s health: he fell ill late and could not finish; the real test will be how he recovers before the rematch in Denver.
• Special teams: extended 5-on-3 turned into a 1: 54 two-man advantage after Brent Burns’ delay penalty; the Wild cashed in Eriksson Ek.
• Scoring distribution: Eriksson Ek with two PPG, Matthew/Matt Boldy with two empty-netters (one shorthanded), and Zuccarello on the scoresheet.
• Standings signal: six straight wins and a 9-1-1 run tighten the Central race despite being five points back.

Here’s the part that matters for the roster picture: Gustavsson’s 44-save night — even with the late illness — reinforces his role, but his late-game distress introduces short-term uncertainty about workload and recovery. If you’re wondering why this keeps coming up, the team’s rapid schedule (including a rematch next weekend) turns one game into several immediate decisions about rest and rotation.

Micro timeline: 02/26/2026 is the date tied to Matthew Boldy’s listed goal entry; the win was described as a Thursday night victory; the two teams are scheduled to play again in Denver next weekend.

It’s easy to overlook, but the practice notes (Wednesday media chats at TRIA Rink, coach and player comments about the Olympic Gold Medal win) suggest the club has been managing narrative and preparation tightly through the break — that background shows up in execution on special teams and in how players responded under pressure.

Writer’s aside: these items — the 44 saves, the late illness, the extended 5-on-3 and the mixed practice coverage — together form a compact signal about how the team is balancing momentum, health and tactical reminders after the Olympic break. Details remain concrete and actionable; longer-term interpretation will hinge on Gustavsson’s recovery and the rematch in Denver.