Minnesota protected its playoff position and moved closer to the third-place spot in the Central that Colorado swiped last week.

Nathan McKinnon and the Avalanche fell short against the Wild, but that doesn't mean they gained nothing from the loss.

The Avalanche, who were delayed getting to Minnesota until the early hours of the morning, battled on the second half of a back-to-back to earn a point in their 2-1 shootout loss to the Minnesota Wild.