NHL: Colorado Strengthens Lead in Series Against Minnesota, Buffalo and Anaheim Celebrate Wins
The Avalanche defeated the Wild 5-2 (1+2 from MacKinnon) and took a 2-0 series lead. In other games, Buffalo beat Montreal 4-2, and Anaheim topped Vegas 3-1.
Main Event
The evening of May 6, 2026, delivered three crucial second-round playoff games to National Hockey League fans. The centerpiece was Colorado Avalanche solidifying their position in the series against the Minnesota Wild — Jared Bednar's team secured a confident 5-2 victory and took a 2-0 lead in the matchup. Meanwhile, in Buffalo, the Sabres opened their series against the Montreal Canadiens with a productive 4-2 win, and the Anaheim Ducks managed to even the score in their battle with the Vegas Golden Knights, winning 3-1 on the road.
Details and Statistics
In Denver, the hero of the night was Nathan MacKinnon — the Colorado leader recorded a goal and two assists, notching his third straight three-point game in the current playoffs. Over the last 40 years, such an achievement has been accomplished by only five players, including Leon Draisaitl and Mikko Rantanen, placing MacKinnon among the greatest masters of playoff battles. Goals for the Avalanche were also scored by Martin Nečas, Gabriel Landeskog, Nicolas Roy, and Valeri Nichushkin, who hit the empty net in the final seconds. Minnesota responded with goals from Kirill Kaprizov and Marcus Johansson, but it wasn't enough.
A notable fact was Colorado's scoring record in the opening games of the series. Fourteen goals scored over two games is the highest mark since 1988, when the Calgary Flames put fifteen past the Los Angeles Kings over a similar stretch. Moreover, twelve different Avalanche players have already found the back of the net in this series — an absolute NHL record for the first two games of any matchup.
The Wild's goaltending continues to face serious issues. After Jesper Wallstedt allowed eight goals in the first game, the coaching staff turned to Filip Gustavsson. However, the experiment failed from the start: the Swede allowed goals on the first two shots of the first period and on the first shot of the second. He finished with 18 saves on 23 shots, allowing five goals.
In Buffalo, the game was no less exciting. The Sabres, returning to the second round for the first time since 2007, started strong: Josh Doan opened the scoring at the five-minute mark off a pass from Zach Benson, and Ryan McLeod doubled the lead on the power play. Bowen Byram scored Buffalo's fourth goal — also on the power play — marking his fourth goal of the playoffs and tying a franchise record for defensemen. Alex Lyon stopped 26 shots, earning his fourth win in five games since taking over in net during the first round against Boston.
In Las Vegas, Anaheim avenged their loss in the opening game. Goaltender Lukáš Dostál was six seconds away from his first career shutout, but Mark Stone managed to deflect a power-play goal just before the final buzzer. Earlier, Beckett Sennecke, Leo Carlsson, and Jansen Harkins had given the Ducks a comfortable lead.
Context and Significance
Colorado's 5-2 victory marked the club's sixth straight win in the 2026 playoffs, tying a franchise record set by the championship team of 2021. Historical statistics also favor the Avalanche: since moving to Denver in the 1995-96 season, the team has won eighteen of twenty-seven best-of-seven series in which they led 2-0. For Minnesota, the situation looks dire: a third consecutive goaltending failure casts doubt on the club's prospects in the current postseason.
Of particular note is the resurgence of Buffalo's special teams. In the first round, the Sabres converted only one of twenty-four power-play opportunities (4.2%) — the worst rate among the 897 teams in league history to reach twenty attempts in a playoff series. Now, the team converted two of Montreal's three penalties, dramatically reversing the trend. Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin left the ice late in the game, limping on his right leg after blocking a shot from Jake Evans, and his condition is a concern.
For Anaheim, success came thanks to lineup changes made by head coach Joel Quenneville. By moving Cutter Gauthier to the second line with Mikael Granlund and Alex Killorn, the coach gained a massive advantage: that combination created twenty-three scoring chances compared to five for Vegas.
What's Next / Next Game Preview
Game 3 of the Colorado-Minnesota series will take place on May 9 in St. Paul at the Xcel Energy Center. The Wild must find an answer to the opponent's offensive firepower, or returning to Denver for Game 4 risks becoming a formality. Montreal will try to bounce back in Buffalo on May 8 in Game 2, while Vegas and Anaheim will continue their rivalry in California also on May 8 — the Honda Center will host Game 3 of the series. With the current score tied 1-1, the balance in the Golden Knights-Ducks pair could tip either way, and home-ice advantage could play a decisive role.
— Editorial Team
