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MacKinnon scores in shootout to lift Avalanche over Wild 3-2

MacKinnon scores in shootout to lift Avalanche over Wild 3-2 | iNFOnews.ca
Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon, front, scores the winning goal past Minnesota Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt during the shootout of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 8, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

DENVER (AP) — Nathan MacKinnon scored his NHL-leading 43rd goal and scored the winning goal in a shootout, lifting the Colorado Avalanche to a 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Sunday in a matchup between two of the NHL’s top four teams in points.

MacKinnon has 70 points in 55 career games against Minnesota, his most against any opponent.

Both teams converted on one of their first three shootout opportunities before Vladimir Tarasenko was stonewalled by Scott Wedgewood, giving MacKinnon the opportunity to deliver his team a win.

Wedgewood, who leads the NHL in goals against average and is second in save percentage, had 32 saves on 34 Minnesota shots.

Trailing 1-0 entering the third period, the Wild scored two goals in a stretch of 2:44, one on a power play and one short-handed, to take the lead. The Avalanche countered with a Nicolas Roy tip-in goal with 7:21 remaining to send the game into overtime.

It was the second meeting in the past 10 days in Denver between the teams, with the Wild winning 5-2 on Feb. 26.

Kirill Kaprizov scored his team-leading 36th goal of the season for the Wild, who had won eight of their previous 10 games. Nico Sturm also scored for Minnesota.

In his first game back with Colorado since being traded from the Calgary Flames on Friday, Nazem Kadri had an assist for the franchise he helped win a Stanley Cup in 2022.

The Avalanche were without captain Gabriel Landeskog, who the team said Sunday is week to week with a lower-body injury. Landeskog took a shot to the groin during Colorado’s shootout win against the Dallas Stars on Friday.

Up next

Wild: Host Utah on Tuesday.

Avalanche: Host Edmonton on Tuesday.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

MacKinnon scores in shootout to lift Avalanche over Wild 3-2 | iNFOnews.ca
Colorado Avalanche center Nazem Kadri waits for a face off in the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild, Sunday, March 8, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
MacKinnon scores in shootout to lift Avalanche over Wild 3-2 | iNFOnews.ca
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Devon Toews, front, collects the puck as Minnesota Wild right wing Bobby Brink pursues in the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 8, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
MacKinnon scores in shootout to lift Avalanche over Wild 3-2 | iNFOnews.ca
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Sam Malinski, front, passes the puck as Minnesota Wild center Nico Sturm pursues in the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 8, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
MacKinnon scores in shootout to lift Avalanche over Wild 3-2 | iNFOnews.ca
Colorado Avalanche center Nicolas Roy, front, puts a shot on Minnesota Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt in the first period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 8, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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The Associated Press

Craig Meyer

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.

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