Jesper Wallstedt was a star in net for the Wild, posting 34 saves after he was benched for Filip Gustavsson in Game 2. It was both the first time in these playoffs that the Avs lost and were held to fewer than two goals, despite outshooting the Wild 35-26.
The Avs still lead the series 2-1 heading into Game 4 as history favors them.
Colorado are 12-6 after leading 2-1 in a playoff series starting as the home team. Meanwhile, the Wild are 4-5 all-time when trailing 2-1 after starting as the away team.
Game 4 between the Wild and Avalanche is scheduled for Monday, May 11th.
Recap & Highlights
It took 15 minutes to see the first goal of the game, but the Wild would score twice in less than two minutes apart to get out to a 2-0 lead.
Kirill Kaprizov scored his second goal of the series, fourth of the playoffs, to put the Wild on the board first, with an assist by Quinn Hughes, before assisting on Hughes' goal that followed suit.
It marked Hughes' fourth goal of the playoffs as well - the most by a defenseman in Wild playoff history - after Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood lost his stick.
Kaprizov and Hughes now need two more multi-point games to tie Marian Gaborik (2003) for the most by a Wild player in franchise playoff history.
The Avs went a total of 0-for-3 on the power play in the first period as both teams finished with 10 shots on goal each.
Minnesota wouldn't take as long to get the scoring started in the second period, scoring in just under five minutes after returning to the ice.
Ryan Hartman picked up his third goal of the season to make it 3-0, with assists from Mats Zuccarello, his second of the game and eighth of the playoffs, and another from Kaprizov.
With that second assist of the game, Kaprizov now has the most multi-assist playoff games (5) in Wild history, surpassing Zach Parise and Mikko Koivu. Wedgewood was pulled after Hartman's goal, bringing in Mackenzie Blackwood for the first time these playoffs.
Colorado finally responded after Nathan MacKinnon found the net for the fifth time in these playoffs, capitalizing on the power play to cut the lead to 3-1.
Gabriel Landeskog (5) and Nazem Kadri (4) were credited with the assists.
But the Wild struck back just 20 seconds later to take a three-goal lead once more - making it the fastest time between two opposing goals these playoffs.
Vladimir Tarasenko shot the puck off Blackwood's chest, which then bounced off Brock Faber into the net, marking Faber's fourth goal of the playoffs.
After being on the ice for almost four minutes straight, Matt Boldy scored his seventh goal of the playoffs with the empty-netter to make it 5-1, putting the final nail in the coffin.
Faber picked up the assist, joining Kaprizov in a three-point night for each player.
The third period didn't see a single penalty for either side, as Minnesota finished 2-for-3 on the power play, and Colorado 1-for-3.