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Barry Petchesky

DENVER, CO - MAY 13: The Colorado Avalanche celebrate defenseman Brett Kulak (27) of the Colorado Avalanche's overtime goal on goaltender Jesper Wallstedt (30) of the Minnesota Wild during overtime of Game 5 of the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images)

Who’s Stopping These Avs?

Ray Ratto

Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche smiles during warmups ahead of Round Two Game Two of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Minnesota Wild.

The Colorado Avalanche Don’t Need Luck

Lauren Theisen

What The Hell Was That?

DALLAS, TX - APRIL 28: Minnesota Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt (30) blocks a shot during the Stanley Cup Playoffs First Round game 5 between the Dallas Stars and the Minnesota Wild on April 28, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

They Don’t Call Him Jesper Sievestedt

Goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) of the Dallas Stars saves a shot bu right wing Valeri Nichushkin

The Central Is So Nasty

Nathan MacKinnon #29 of the Colorado Avalanche scores a goal during a shootout after overtime to win the game against the Minnesota Wild

I Have So Many Nice Things To Say About The Avalanche And The Wild

Kirill Kaprizov #97 and Quinn Hughes #43 of the Minnesota Wild stand on the blue line during the National Anthem

Minnesota Goes Wild For Quinn Hughes

Kirill Kaprizov #97 of the Minnesota Wild celebrates

Minnesota Is Good Enough For Kirill Kaprizov

ST. PAUL, UNITED STATES - MAY 1: the NHL Playoff game between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Minnesota Wild at the Xcel Energy Center on May 1, 2025 in St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. (Photo by /NHL)

Your Best Player Might Want Out. Enjoy The Season!

General Manager Bill Guerin of the Minnesota Wild smiles during rounds 2-7 of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft at TRIA Rink on July 24, 2021 in St. Paul, Minnesota

Bills Week

The Wild’s Offseason Has Been Pretty Tame

ST PAUL, MINNESOTA - MAY 01: in the third period of Game Six of the First Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Xcel Energy Center on May 01, 2025 in St Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Ellen Schmidt/Getty Images)

Wild Fans, This Is Just Your Life Now

ST. PAUL, MN - APRIL 24: Minnesota Wild left wing Matt Boldy (12) celebrates scoring a goal during the second period in Game Three of the First Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Vegas Golden Knights and Minnesota Wild on April 24th, 2025, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN. (Photo by Bailey Hillesheim/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Vegas Can’t Answer The Call Of The Wild

ST PAUL, MINNESOTA - APRIL 15:-Andre Fleury #29 of the Minnesota Wild gets surrounded by teammates after an overtime win against the Anaheim Ducks at Xcel Energy Center on April 15, 2025 in St Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Luke Schmidt/NHLI via Getty Images)

One Last Nice Moment For Marc-Andre Fleury, Who Deserves Them All

Minnesota Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov (97) is mauled by teammates after scoring an overtime game-winning goal

The Wild Are Running … Uh, You Know

ST. LOUIS, MO - OCTOBER 15: Filip Gustavsson #32 of the Minnesota Wild celebrates his empty net goal against the St. Louis Blues on October 15, 2024 at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Scott Rovak/NHLI via Getty Images)

A Short History Of The Goalie Goal

SAINT PAUL, MN - MARCH 10: Juuse Saros #74, Ryan O'Reilly #90 and Gustav Nyquist #14 of the Nashville Predators defend their goal against Joel Eriksson Ek #14 of the Minnesota Wild during the game at the Xcel Energy Center on March 10, 2024 in Saint Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images)

Not Even Wild Players Knew The Obscure Rule That Threatened A Forfeited Point

SAINT PAUL, MN - FEBRUARY 19: Joel Eriksson Ek #14 celebrates his goal with his teammates Kirill Kaprizov #97 and Matt Boldy #12 of the Minnesota Wild against the Vancouver Canucks during the game at the Xcel Energy Center on February 19, 2024 in Saint Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images)

Goalies Were Optional In Minnesota

DALLAS, TX APRIL 19: Marc-Andre Fleury #29 of the Minnesota Wild tends goal against the Dallas Stars in Game Two of the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at American Airlines Center on April 19, 2023, in Dallas, Texas (Photo by Glenn James/NHLI via Getty Images)

The Wild’s Goalie Platoon Didn’t Pay Off

Matt Boldy smiles and hugs Filip Gustavsson

The Wild Are Getting Lucky At The Perfect Time

Kelsey McKinney

Ryan Reaves takes a sniff of smelling salts

Hockey Man In Need Of Third, Just-Smelliest Enough Salt

Tom Ley

ST. LOUIS, MO - MARCH 15: Marc-Andre Fleury #29 of the Minnesota Wild attempts to get physical with Jordan Binnington #50 of the St. Louis Blues but is stopped by linesman Dan Kelly #98 at the Enterprise Center on March 15, 2023 in St. Louis, Missouri.