Avalanche 5, Wild 2: How Colorado Bounced Back With a Pivotal Road Win in Game 4

The Avalanche will return to Denver needing just one more win to secure a spot in the Western Conference finals for the first time since their Stanley Cup title season in 2021-22.

Colorado secured an important road win at the Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul, defeating the Wild 5–2 in Game 4 to take a 3–1 series lead. It was a close game until the end, when the Avalanche scored a pair of empty net goals to lock down the victory, and now they’ll return home as they aim to shut the door on Minnesota.

But what has been the Avalanche’s recipe for success in the playoffs?

The Avalanche have unparalleled depth

Thus far, they’ve won seven of their eight postseason games, outscoring their opponents by a margin of 13 goals and holding opponents to two or fewer goals in six of those contests. They’re relentless on offense, with capable playmakers across all four lines. That type of depth is hard to come by in the NHL. The Avs don’t have a major weak spot in the lineup, meaning that their opponents never have a chance to rest. Colorado had goal scorers across all four of its lines in Game 4, with top-liner Nathan MacKinnon scoring an empty-netter, second-unit forwards Brock Nelson and Ross Colton both scoring a goal, third-liner Nazem Kadri sniping one on the power play and even fourth-liner Parker Kelly getting in on the goalscoring action.

Colorado has two reliable goaltenders

Mackenzie Blackwood had gone almost a month without drawing a start in goal for the Avalanche, but he looked as if he hadn’t missed a beat when taking over in Game 4 in place of Scott Wedgewood. A lot of teams in the NHL playoffs are lucky if they get consistent play out of one of their goalies, let alone both. But when Jared Bednar made the decision to start Blackwood on Monday night, it paid off. The luxury of being able to confidently rotate goaltenders in big games is one that most teams don’t have.

Elite defensive pairings

There might not be a better defensive partnership in the NHL than Cale Makar and Devon Toews. The duo does it all, as Makar is one of the most gifted two-way defensemen in the league, and Toews is a durable, strong defenseman who compliments his partner well. Makar and Toews were excellent again on Monday night, with Toews ending the game at a +3 after skating for over 28 minutes––nearly half the game. Nothing comes easy for opposing offenses when those two are on the ice, and their incredible endurance lets them soak up ice time on a nightly basis.

Game 5 is set for Wednesday, May 13 at 8:00 p.m. ET from the Ball Arena.

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