Wild Fall to Avs in West 2nd; PK, Injuries Doom Them

Minnesota's run ends against a relentless Colorado squad, with their penalty kill crumbling under pressure and injuries piling up at the worst moments. Bill Guerin faces tough choices after a series that exposed vulnerabilities no quick fix can ignore. The Avalanche advance, but the Wild's offseason overhaul now carries higher stakes in a Central Division that punishes the weak.