Wild Avalanche of goals makes Game 1 one for the history books

Avalanche survive 9-6 Wild one with Minnesota in Game 1, just the 10th playoff game ever with 15+ goals and second since 1994. Makar, MacKinnon power Colorado

BY JAKE SHAPIRO

May 3, 2026, 10:48 PM

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Jared Bednar has coached a lot of hockey games. He’s never coached one in the playoffs quite like this.

The Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Wild combined for 15 goals in Colorado’s 9-6 victory in Game 1 of their second-round series Sunday night at Ball Arena — a total that landed the contest in the NHL record book.

It marked just the 10th playoff game in league history to reach 15 or more goals, and only the second since 1994, according to The Associated Press. The most recent was the Calgary Flames’ 9-6 win over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of their 2022 series.

This is 10th playoff game ever with 15+ goals and the second since 1994. Flames beat Oilers 9-6 in Game 1 in 2022

— Josh Dubow (@JoshDubowAP) May 4, 2026

“If you scripted that one, I don’t know how you do,” Bednar said. “I can’t explain it.”

Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar gives a brief but great answer when asked how to explain what just happened in a 9-6 Colorado win. pic.twitter.com/EFhreVjM9u

— Will Petersen (@PetersenWill) May 4, 2026

The Avalanche led 3-0 inside the first 14 minutes, trailed 5-4 in the second period and pulled away in the third behind a pair of Cale Makar goals and a Nazem Kadri breakaway tally. Fourteen different players factored into the scoring across both rosters, and the teams combined for 79 shots on goal.

“I really like the way our team handled that tonight even though there were a lot of ups and downs,” Makar said.

For Kadri, whose third-period goal restored a two-goal cushion — the night was a reminder of what this Avalanche group can be when the script gets thrown out.

“Versatility, that’s what we always talk about,” Kadri said. “Whether we’ve got to go high-flying offense or lockdown defense, I feel comfortable in both scenarios, and I know the team does as well.”

Asked Nazem Kadri what it says about the Avalanche they can win 2-1 games against the Kings then 9-6 tonight against the Wild. Mentioned “versatility” and that the Avs can win with different styles. pic.twitter.com/ym10bNeaCA

— Will Petersen (@PetersenWill) May 4, 2026

Makar, Devon Toews and Martin Necas were named the game’s three stars. Game 2 is Tuesday at 6 p.m. in Denver.