Avalanche Eliminates Wild in Five Games

Jack Drury (Harvard) pulled his team within a goal late in the third period, and the Colorado Avalanche went on to top the Minnesota Wild, 4-3, in overtime on Thursday in their Western Conference quarterfinal. The Avalanche, who overcame a 3-0 deficit after one period of play, won the best-of-seven 2026 Stanley Cup Playoff series in five games.

Devon Toews (Quinnipiac) assisted on Drury's goal, and finished the series with a goal and four assists over five games. Nico Sturm (Clarkson) set up two goals for the Wild, which was seeking its first NHL conference final berth since 2003. Colorado, which outshot Minnesota on the night, 34-20, advanced to its first Western Conference final since it won the Stanley Cup in 2022. 

Avalanche Put Wild on Brink of Elimination

Jack Drury (Harvard) set up the game-winning goal in the third period, and the Colorado Avalanche moved one step away from the Western Conference Final with a 5-2 victory at the Minnesota Wild last night. Colorado now leads the best-of-seven 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs series, three games to one.

Ross Colton (Vermont) put the Avalanche up, 2-1, in the final frame before Nico Sturm (Clarkson) tied matters less than three minutes later for the Wild. After Drury's heroics, Colorado closed out the contest with two empty-net goals, the second by Brock Nelson (North Dakota), and outshot Minnesota, 34-21, on the night.

Game Five and a potential clinching contest for the Avs is Thursday night in Denver.

Wild Tie Series With Dallas

Matt Boldy (Boston College) tipped home a shot in the final minute of overtime to give the Minnesota Wild a 3-2 win over the visiting Dallas Stars last night in their first-round 2026 Stanley Cup Playoff series. The best-of-seven NHL Western Conference matchup is now tied at two games apiece.

Brock Faber (Minnesota) scored the Wild's first goal, and also assisted on the tying goal late in regulation along with Nico Sturm (Clarkson). Jake Oettinger (Boston University) made 40 saves in goal for Dallas. Game Five is Tuesday night in Texas.

 

Princeton, Clarkson Skate to ECAC Tie

Clarkson University skated to its first tie of the 2018-19 season on Friday night with a 1-1 deadlock at ECAC Hockey rival Princeton University.

Aaron Thow scored from the blueline on a first-period power play for No. 12 Clarkson (20-10-1 overall, 11-7-1 ECAC), after Nico Sturm won a faceoff in Princeton's end.  The score remained unchanged until 6:23 into the third period, when Jackson Cressey connected for Princeton (7-16-3, 5-12-2) in front of the Clarkson net on a power play, off a feed from the right side by Max Véronneau.

Princeton outshot Clarkson, 36-25, on the night. Jake Kielly finished with 35 saves for the visiting Golden Knights, while freshman Jeremie Forget finished with 18 saves for the host Tigers in his first career start. Forget left the game with 9:20 remaining in regulation due to an undisclosed injury, and was replaced by sophomore Ryan Ferland, who made six stops, including three in overtime.

Clarkson will visit fifth-ranked Quinnipiac on Saturday, while Princeton will close out its home schedule versus St. Lawrence.