Wild win seventh straight with 3-2 shootout victory over Colorado

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Kirill Kaprizov had two goals in regulation, Mats Zuccarello and Matt Boldy scored in the shootout, and the Minnesota Wild extended their winning streak to seven games with a 3-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche on Friday.

Minnesota, a league-best 11-1-1 in November, got 39 saves from Jesper Wallstedt, who won his sixth straight start and improved to 7-0-2 this season.

The loss was the first in 11 games for Colorado, now 10-0-2 in November.

Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and assist, and Gabriel Landeskog also scored for the Avalanche. Scott Wedgewood stopped 35 shots, but his career-high eight-game winning streak ended.

The game was the eighth time in NHL history each team had a winning streak of six-plus contests entering play. The last was Jan. 7, 2020, when Tampa Bay and Vancouver met with seven-game streaks.

With the teams tied 1-1 in the shootout, Boldy beat Wedgewood in the third round and Wallstedt made a glove save on Cale Makar.

Landeskog tied the game with less than nine minutes to play in regulation, outmuscling Brock Faber for a puck at the right post and lifting it past Wallstedt.

MacKinnon became the first NHL player to reach 40 points this season with his first-period goal. Alone in the crease, MacKinnon was the beneficiary of Artturi Lehkonen forcing a blind pass by Kaprizov from the wall.

Kaprizov evened the game 12 minutes into the second period with his 200th career goal, coming down the slot to tip in a pass from Zeev Buium. Kaprizov’s 114th career home goal set a franchise record.

It was the first goal allowed in four games by the Avalanche, who set a franchise record of 221:42 without giving up a goal.

Kaprizov converted a feed from Ryan Hartman with 1:57 left in the second period for a 2-1 Minnesota lead.

Avalanche: Host Montreal on Saturday.

Wild: Host Buffalo on Saturday night.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Colorado Avalanche center Zakhar Bardakov checks Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Bailey Hillesheim)

Minnesota Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt (30) makes a save during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche, Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Bailey Hillesheim)

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) is congratulated by teammates after scoring during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild, Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Bailey Hillesheim)

Minnesota Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt (30) watches the puck while defenseman Jared Spurgeon (46) defends against Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Bailey Hillesheim)

Minnesota Wild left wing Kirill Kaprizov (97) is congratulated by teammates after scoring his second goal of the game during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche, Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Bailey Hillesheim)

BURGAS, Bulgaria (AP) — Paul Magnier claimed the opening stage of the Giro d’Italia after the French rider won a sprint finish, while race favorite Jonas Vingegaard finished safely in the pack on Friday.

Magnier, who rides for Soudal Quick-Step, will wear the pink shirt for Stage 2 after his first win at a three-week Grand Tour.

The Giro’s opening three stages are being held in Bulgaria. The opening stage was a flat 147-kilometer (91-mile) course from Nessebar to Burgas on the Black Sea coast. Magnier finished the stage in 3 hours, 21 minutes, edging Tobias Lund Andresen at the finish line.

Several riders went down in a crash when a rider clipped a temporary barrier during the run-in over the final kilometer. It appears all the riders who fell managed to get up and finish the stage.

Vingegaard is aiming to complete the rare feat of winning all three Grand Tours. The Danish leader of Jumbo Visma team won the Tour de France in 2022 and 2023 and the Spanish Vuelta last year. This year, he won the Paris-Nice and Volta de Catalonia weeklong races in March.

Tadej Pogačar, cycling's top talent, is skipping the Giro to focus on adding to his four Tour titles in July.

Saturday's stage is a hilly 221-kilometer ride from Burgas to Tarnovo.

The Giro finishes in Rome on May 31.

AP cycling: https://apnews.com/hub/cycling

The pack rides during Stage 1 of the Giro d'Italia cycling race, from Nessebar to Burgas, Bulgaria, Friday, May 8, 2026. (Gian Mattia D'Alberto/LaPresse via AP)

The pack rides during Stage 1 of the Giro d'Italia cycling race, from Nessebar to Burgas, Bulgaria, Friday, May 8, 2026. (Gian Mattia D'Alberto/LaPresse via AP)

The pack rides during Stage 1 of the Giro d'Italia cycling race, from Nessebar to Burgas, Bulgaria, Friday, May 8, 2026. (Gian Mattia D'Alberto/LaPresse via AP)

France's Paul Magnier celebrates winning stage 1 of the Giro d'Italia cycling race, from Nessebar to Burgas, Bulgaria, Friday, May 8, 2026. (Massimo Paolone/LaPresse via AP)

Denmark's Jonas Vingegaard rides during Stage 1 of the Giro d'Italia cycling race, from Nessebar to Burgas, Bulgaria, Friday, May 8, 2026. (Gian Mattia D'Alberto/LaPresse via AP)