History, both near-term and from decades ago, speaks volumes of an edgy rivalry between the Colorado Avalanche and the Minnesota Wild. These teams are strapped and expected to go hard en route to winning Lord Stanley’s silver and nickel championship cup.

Now that we know the who, where, and when, fans should prepare themselves for an entertaining second-round series. Here’s how the Avs and Wild compare to years past.

Postseason History

Their playoff rivalry and history started in 2003. Minnesota, then a rising expansion team, defeated Colorado in the Conference Quarterfinals. The Avs collapsed in this series after being ahead 3-1.

2003 Stanley Cup Playoffs Scores

  • Game 1: MIN 4-2 COL (Apr 10)
  • Game 2: MIN 2-3 COL (Apr 12)
  • Game 3: COL 3-0 MIN (Apr 14)
  • Game 4: COL 3-1 MIN (Apr 16)
  • Game 5: MIN 3-2 COL (Apr 19)
  • Game 6: COL 2-3 MIN (Apr 21) (OT)
  • Game 7: MIN 3-2 COL (Apr 22) (OT)

In 2008, Colorado knocked out Minnesota in six. The intense series included three overtime sessions. With the Wild up 2-1, the Avs had a come-to-Jesus moment. They refocused and went on to knock Minnesota out of the playoffs

The Avs then went on to be swept by the Detroit Red Wings, 4-0, in the Conference Semifinals.

2008 Stanley Cup Playoff Scores

  • Game 1 (Apr 9): Avalanche 3, Wild 2 (OT)
  • Game 2 (Apr 11): Avalanche 1, Wild 2 (OT)
  • Game 3 (Apr 14): Avalanche 2, Wild 3 (OT)
  • Game 4 (Apr 15): Avalanche 5, Wild 1
  • Game 5 (Apr 17): Avalanche 1, Wild 0
  • Game 6 (Apr 19): Avalanche 2, Wild 1

In the 2014 series, both Nathan MacKinnon and Gabriel Landeskog got their first taste of NHL playoff action. They were only 18 and 21 years old. This series was filled with drama from start to finish.

It took seven games, including four overtime periods, for Minnesota to punch its ticket to the next round. With the Avs losing on home ice at the then-Pepsi Center, they once again sent their fans home with heavy hearts.

2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs Scores

  • Game 1 (Apr 17): Wild 4, Avalanche 5 (OT)
  • Game 2 (Apr 19): Wild 2, Avalanche 4
  • Game 3 (Apr 21): Avalanche 0, Wild 1 (OT)
  • Game 4 (Apr 24): Avalanche 1, Wild 2
  • Game 5 (Apr 26): Wild 3, Avalanche 4 (OT)
  • Game 6 (Apr 28): Avalanche 2, Wild 5
  • Game 7 (Apr 30): Wild 5, Avalanche 4 (OT)

2025-26 Regular Season Play

The Avalanche and Wild met four times this season. Both sides won once in regulation time and again in tense game-ending shootouts.

November 28th: Avs 2, Wild 3 (SO)

December 21st: Avs 5, Wild 1

February 26th: Wild 5, Avs 2

March 8th: Wild 2, Avs 3 (SO)

Season Stats

Both teams’ match-day statistics reflect their parity heading into this series. It’s once again been very even all season long.

  • Goals For: 10 to 11
  • Goals Against: 11 to 10
  • Five-on-Five Goals For: 4 to 7
  • Five-on-Five Goals Against: 7 to 4
  • Power Play: 21.4% to 15.4%
  • Penalty Kill: 84.6% to 78.6%
  • Team Save: .934 to .928
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Feb 26, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Avalanche goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood (39) makes a save against Minnesota Wild center Joel Eriksson Ek (14) as defenseman Cale Makar (8) defends in the first period at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

The start time for Game 1 is set for 7 p.m. MT on Sunday, in Denver. The game will be televised on TNT, truTV, and HBO MAX. Altitude Sports Radio 92.5 FM, with play-by-play man Conor McGahey, broadcasting the match on the airwaves.

In addition, the full series schedule was released to include a long three-day break when the series transitions from Colorado to Minnesota. Nonetheless, the history between the two teams will commence later on Sunday night.