Minnesota Wild won the direct duel for first place in the Central Division of the North American ice hockey league NHL against Colorado Avalanche. Dean Evason’s team defeated the reigning Stanley Cup winners 4-2 in Denver on Wednesday and extended their lead over the Dallas Stars and Colorado to three points each. With seven games remaining in the regular season, Minnesota is all but certain of the playoff ticket.
Two shorthanded goals from Frederick Gaudreau, something no Wild player has ever managed in a game before, and 42 saves from goalkeeper Filip Gustavsson decided the match at the Ball Arena. Minnesota have only gone without a point once in their last 21 games, continuing their winning streak without injured star forward Kirill Kaprisov.