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Avs and Wild reignite historic playoff rivalry
2 May
Summary
- The Avalanche and Wild will meet in the second round of the 2026 playoffs.
- Their playoff history includes three prior Game 7 overtime matchups.
- This is the first playoff series between the teams in 12 years.
The Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Wild will clash in the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs, reigniting a historic rivalry. The Avalanche advanced after a first-round sweep of the Los Angeles Kings, while the Wild upset the Dallas Stars in six games. This encounter marks the fourth playoff series between these Central Division foes.
The teams' playoff history is punctuated by dramatic finishes. In 2003, the Wild, an expansion franchise, upset a star-studded Avalanche team in a Game 7 overtime classic, marking the end of Patrick Roy's career. The Avalanche later avenged this loss in 2008, defeating the Wild in six games.
Most recently, in 2014, the Wild again eliminated the Avalanche in a thrilling Game 7 overtime contest, which also served as an early playoff appearance for stars like Nathan MacKinnon and Gabe Landeskog. This upcoming series, the first between the franchises in 12 years and the first under current Avalanche coach Jared Bednar, promises to add another chapter to their storied playoff history.
