Mn Wild top Avalanche 5-2 with Gustavsson’s 44 saves and Boldy scoring
The mn wild beat the Colorado Avalanche 5-2 in Denver on Feb. 26, 2026, a victory built around Filip Gustavsson’s 44 saves and scoring from Joel Eriksson Ek and Matthew Boldy that leaves the teams headed back to Denver next weekend.
Gustavsson’s 44 saves anchored the win
DENVER — Filip Gustavsson made 44 saves in the Thursday night win and served as Minnesota’s backbone during the 5-2 victory over the best-in-the-NHL Colorado Avalanche, but he could not finish the game, leaving with about one minute left after throwing up in his crease as he battled an illness that mostly occurred in the third period, coach John Hynes said. A photo credit appears as Isaiah J. Downing / Imagn Images.
Eriksson Ek finished a pressure 5-on-3 with a power-play touch
Joel Eriksson Ek scored two goals, both on the power play, and produced the key finish on an extended special-team sequence 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 it, stretching the Wild’s two-man advantage to 1: 54. The Wild generated point-blank looks from Quinn Hughes and Matthew Boldy during the sequence, and Eriksson Ek’s centering pass/shot through the crease bounced off the pad of Mackenzie Blackwood to make it 2-1. Coach John Hynes called a timeout during the sequence to rest a top unit that had been on the ice for 48 seconds and to remind players of their setups; the team had not worked on 5-on-3s since before the Olympic break.
Matthew Boldy, Zuccarello and the late goals
Matthew Boldy factored into the scoring in multiple ways: context notes Matthew Boldy with a goal versus the Colorado Avalanche and also lists Matthew Boldy with a shorthanded goal. The game summary also states that Matt Boldy scored two empty-netters, one shorthanded. Mats Zuccarello scored for Minnesota as well, with the play listed as MIN@COL: Zuccarello scores goal against Mackenzie Blackwood. Those contributions helped seal the final 5-2 score.
Mn Wild riding a long stretch and jockeying in the Division
The Mn Wild have now won six straight and sit in a 9-1-1 stretch that includes games before the Olympic break. Minnesota is five points back of Colorado for first place in the Central Division, though the Avalanche hold two games in hand; the two teams will meet again in Denver next weekend.
Players and coaches addressed the break, practice and Olympic topic
Players and coaches spoke to media around the game and in practice. Coach Jack Capuano spoke to media following practice at TRIA Rink, and Ekky spoke to media following practice at TRIA Rink. The coach also chatted with media after practice on Wednesday, and Gus Bus chats with media after practice on Wednesday. Ahead of the match, Quinn talked about the Olympic Gold Medal win, Fabes talked about the Olympic Gold Medal win, and Bolds talked about the Olympic Gold Medal win; the coach spoke on coming out of the break after the Olympic Gold Medal win. Following the 5-2 victory, the coach, Quinn and Boldy each spoke with media.
Takeaways and what’s next
Gustavsson’s late illness and exit came after a heroic 44-save performance that kept Minnesota in the game when Colorado dominated stretches — taking nine of the first 10 shots and 11 of the first 13 of the third — and teammates credited him for key saves that allowed the Wild to build. Joel Eriksson Ek said Gustavsson’s stops "kept us calm and we could start building, " and Quinn Hughes called him "a beast" and "unbelievable, " while Hynes labeled it "a real gutty performance. " Minnesota will return to Denver for the next matchup between the clubs next weekend.
