The Avalanche dominated the Wild with a 5-2 victory in Minnesota, pushing their series lead to 3-1 and giving them a chance to close it out at home on Wednesday. While the game was closer than the final score suggests, it was a complete team effort highlighted by depth contributions, as the Avs held the Wild without a shot for nearly 20 straight minutes. When Colorado plays at this level, it becomes hard to imagine anyone beating them. Peter Baugh emphasized that this was a top-to-bottom performance, not just from stars but from the entire roster.
To their credit, the Wild fought hard, taking an early lead and tying the game in the third period. But the Avalanche responded quickly, with Parker Kelly scoring the go-ahead goal and adding two empty-netters. Joe Smith noted that this loss could haunt the Wild. The series isn’t over yet, but it’s close.
Meanwhile, in the PWHL, the Walter Cup finals matchup remains unclear. The Ottawa Charge secured their spot by beating the Boston Fleet in a double-overtime thriller, thanks to Michela Cava’s winner. However, the second spot is still undecided after Game 5 between the Frost and Montreal Victoire was postponed due to illness. The game has been rescheduled for tonight, forcing Montreal hockey fans to watch two playoff games at once. The league has not disclosed details about the illness, but Hailey Salvian reports it’s confined to the Montreal side. The Frost have a 5-0 record when facing elimination, and they now have a chance to extend that streak and set up a rematch with the Charge, while Montreal hopes to close on home ice and guarantee a new champion.
Elsewhere around the league, Corey Pronman released his first mock draft, with intrigue at the top about whether the Maple Leafs take Gavin McKenna and what the Sharks and Canucks do with their picks. Martin St. Louis isn’t the only former Lightning star helping the Canadiens in their Cup run, as Vincent Lecavalier serves as a special adviser. Dom Luszczyszyn evaluated teams against his Stanley Cup contender checklist, with mixed results for the Canucks and Blackhawks. The Flyers’ surprising playoff run should pay dividends for years to come, despite their second-round exit.
As for potential conference finals, the options range from Wild vs. Ducks to Canadiens vs. Hurricanes. The latter matchup is ranked best due to historic bad blood, talent, and loud buildings. Tonight features two crucial games: Sabres at Canadiens in Game 4, where Montreal has momentum after a 6-2 win in Game 3, and Ducks at Golden Knights in Game 5, with Anaheim finally getting their power play clicking.
Lastly, a trivia answer: the 1992 playoffs saw the Chicago Blackhawks and Pittsburgh Penguins each win 11 straight games, tying the record for most consecutive wins in one postseason. The Hurricanes have won 11 straight so far, but they need one more to set a new mark.