--- title: "Avalanche Depth Overwhelms Wild in 5-2 Win, Push Wild to Brink" description: "Colorado's balanced scoring and stifling defense put Minnesota one loss from elimination in the Stanley Cup Playoffs." url: https://sportopod.com/en-US/cluster/nhl-game-4-highlights-avalanche-5-wild-2-mp2a6lad published: 2026-05-12T04:16:37+00:00 updated: 2026-05-13T03:23:54.078+00:00 author: "Kostadin Stamboliev" publisher: "Pineido" site: "Sportopod" language: en topics: ["hockey"] --- # Avalanche Depth Overwhelms Wild in 5-2 Win, Push Wild to Brink > Colorado's balanced scoring and stifling defense put Minnesota one loss from elimination in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Colorado Avalanche dismantled the Minnesota Wild 5-2 in Game 4 on Thursday, taking a commanding 3-1 series lead in their Stanley Cup First Round matchup. Colorado's balanced attack featured goals from four different scorers, while their defense smothered Minnesota's top line, holding them to just two goals. The Avs struck early with a first-period goal from Nathan MacKinnon, then extended the lead with tallies from Mikko Rantanen and Gabriel Landeskog in the second. Minnesota briefly cut the deficit to 3-2 early in the third, but Colorado responded with two quick goals from J.T. Compher and Valeri Nichushkin to seal the win. Goaltender Darcy Kuemper made 28 saves, while the Wild's Kirill Kaprizov was held scoreless for the third straight game. The Wild's inability to generate consistent offense against Colorado's forecheck proved fatal. Minnesota managed only 30 shots, with their top line of Kaprizov, Mats Zuccarello, and Ryan Hartman generating just five combined shots. The Avs' depth scoring, a hallmark of their regular-season success, overwhelmed the Wild's penalty kill, which allowed two power-play goals on four opportunities. Colorado's fourth line, featuring Compher and Nichushkin, outscored Minnesota's bottom six 2-0, a disparity that exposed the Wild's lack of secondary scoring. This loss puts the Wild on the brink of elimination, trailing 3-1 in the series. The Avalanche, widely considered Stanley Cup contenders, have now won three straight games after dropping the series opener. Their ability to roll four lines and stifle opponents with speed and physicality has been the difference. For Minnesota, the pressure is immense: they must win Game 5 at home to force a Game 6, but facing Colorado's relentless attack, their playoff hopes are fading fast. What's next: Game 5 shifts to St. Paul on Saturday, where the Wild face elimination. The Avalanche aim to close out the series and advance to the Second Round. ## Why this matters The Avalanche's 5-2 victory in Game 4 underscores why they are a legitimate Stanley Cup threat: their depth scoring and defensive discipline suffocate opponents. By neutralizing Minnesota's top line and getting contributions from all four lines, Colorado has put the Wild on the brink of elimination. This series win would validate the Avs' regular-season dominance and set them up for a deep playoff run. For the Wild, it's a stark reminder that relying on star power alone isn't enough against a complete team. ## Frequently asked ### Who scored for the Avalanche in Game 4? Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, Gabriel Landeskog, J.T. Compher, and Valeri Nichushkin scored for Colorado. MacKinnon, Rantanen, and Landeskog are key stars, while Compher and Nichushkin provided crucial depth scoring. ### How did the Wild's top line perform? Kirill Kaprizov, Mats Zuccarello, and Ryan Hartman combined for just five shots and were held scoreless. Kaprizov has now gone three straight games without a point, a major factor in Minnesota's offensive struggles. ### What is the series status after Game 4? The Avalanche lead the series 3-1. Game 5 is in St. Paul on Saturday, where the Wild face elimination. Colorado can close out the series with a win. ### How did Darcy Kuemper perform? Kuemper made 28 saves on 30 shots, posting a .933 save percentage. He was solid when needed, especially in the third period after the Wild cut the lead to 3-2. ## Sources & Citations - [NHL Game 4 Highlights: Avalanche 5, Wild 2](https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/video/nhl-game-4-highlights-avalanche-5-wild-2/) — TheNewsAPI.com (2026-05-12) - [NHL Game 5 Highlights: Avalanche 4, Wild 3 (OT)](https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/video/nhl-game-5-highlights-avalanche-4-wild-3-ot/) — TheNewsAPI.com (2026-05-14) --- Cite: Avalanche Depth Overwhelms Wild in 5-2 Win, Push Wild to Brink. Sportopod, 2026-05-12. https://sportopod.com/en-US/cluster/nhl-game-4-highlights-avalanche-5-wild-2-mp2a6lad