New Delhi, May 10 -- The Minnesota Wild looked finished two games into this Western Conference semifinal series. The Colorado Avalanche had stormed through the opening rounds without a single playoff defeat, scoring at will and exposing every weakness Minnesota tried to hide. By Saturday night, though, the entire tone of the series had shifted.

Kirill Kaprizov delivered his most explosive postseason performance yet, Jesper Wallstedt rediscovered his composure in goal, and the Wild crushed Colorado 5-1 in Game 3 to drag themselves back into a series many believed was already over.

For the first time this postseason, the Avalanche looked vulnerable.

Minnesota entered Game 3 desperate after conceding 14 goals across the first two games in...