COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (AP) — Lionel Messi had two goals, Germán Berterame scored for the second consecutive game, and Inter Miami beat the Colorado Rapids 3-2 on Saturday to extend their unbeaten streak to seven games and win their first game under interim coach Guillermo Hoyos.
Hoyos, who had been serving as club's sporting director, took over coaching duties after Javier Mascherano unexpectedly left the club due to personal reasons. Mascherano led Inter Miami to the 2025 MLS Cup title in his only full season with the club.
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Colorado Rapids midfielder Josh Atencio claps prior to an MLS soccer game against the Inter Miami CF Saturday, April 18, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Geneva Heffernan)
Members of Inter Miami CF celebrate after a goal by forward Germán Berterame in the first half of an MLS soccer game against the Colorado Rapids Saturday, April 18, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Geneva Heffernan)
Inter Miami CF forward Germán Berterame celebrates after scoring a goal in the first half of an MLS soccer game against the Colorado Rapids Saturday, April 18, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Geneva Heffernan)
Inter Miami CF forwards Lionel Messi and Germán Berterame celebrate after a goal by Berterame in the first half of an MLS soccer game against the Colorado Rapids Saturday, April 18, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Geneva Heffernan)
Messi, who opened the scoring when he converted a penalty kick in the 13th minute, scored the go-ahead goal in 79th minute. After a Colorado turnover near midfield, Messi cut back near the right corner of the penalty box and flicked a rising shot that split a pair of defenders and slipped inside the back post.
Messi has seven goal this season, tied with Sam Surridge and Petar Musa for most in MLS.
Miami (4-1-3) hasn't lost since a season-opening 3-0 defeat to Los Angeles FC.
Yannick Bright was shown a straight red car in the 87th minute and Miami played a man down the rest of the way.
The Rapids (4-4-0) had won back-to-back games and three of their last four
Bright drew a penalty conceded by Josh Atencio and Messi converted from the spot to open the scoring.
Mateo Silvetti, along the right end line, played an arcing cross to the back post where Berterame slammed home a header to make it 2-0 in the fifth minute of first-half stoppage time.
Bertarame made his first career start and scored his first goal in MLS last time out in a 2-2 tie with the New York Red Bulls.
Rafael Navarro scored in the 58th minute for the Rapids. The 26-year-old forward scored two goals in a 6-2 win over Houston last time out and has six goals this season.
Darren Yapi subbed on for Hamzat Ojediran and, moments later, scored on the counter-attack to make it 2-2 in the 62nd minute.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/soccer
Colorado Rapids midfielder Josh Atencio claps prior to an MLS soccer game against the Inter Miami CF Saturday, April 18, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Geneva Heffernan)
Members of Inter Miami CF celebrate after a goal by forward Germán Berterame in the first half of an MLS soccer game against the Colorado Rapids Saturday, April 18, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Geneva Heffernan)
Inter Miami CF forward Germán Berterame celebrates after scoring a goal in the first half of an MLS soccer game against the Colorado Rapids Saturday, April 18, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Geneva Heffernan)
Inter Miami CF forwards Lionel Messi and Germán Berterame celebrate after a goal by Berterame in the first half of an MLS soccer game against the Colorado Rapids Saturday, April 18, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Geneva Heffernan)
DALLAS (AP) — Matt Boldy had two goals with an assist, Joel Ericksson Ek scored two power-play goals and rookie goalie Jesper Wallstedt stopped 27 shots in his postseason debut to help the Minnesota Wild beat the Dallas Stars 6-1 on Saturday in Game 1 of their Western Conference playoff series.
Kirill Kaprizov added a goal and two assists and Mats Zuccarello had three helpers for the Wild, who have lost nine consecutive playoff series since 2015. This was an impressive start in a long-expected matchup of Central Division rivals who finished behind Presidents' Trophy winner Colorado.
Even though the Stars have made the West final each of the past three seasons, they are 1-7 in Game 1s at home during that span.
Game 2 is Monday night in Dallas.
Dallas allowed the first goal in 15 of its 18 playoff games last year, and gave up three power-play goals in a 5-4 win over the Wild just nine days earlier. The Stars trailed for good only 5 1/2 minutes into the series when Ericksson Ek scored on a pass from Boldy to make it 1-0. Ericksson Ek added another power-play goal past Jake Oettinger in the third.
Kaprizov and Boldy, the first Wild teammates with 40 goals in the same season, scored during a three-goal surge in the first 6 1/2 minutes of the second period for a 4-0 lead. Ryan Hartman scored in between, after having the primary assist on Kaprizov's goal.
Jason Robertson and Wyatt Johnston both had 45 goals as the first Dallas teammates with 40 goals in the same season. They combined on the Stars' power-play goal with 4:50 left in the second, Robertson scoring on a back-hander after gathering a pass from Johnston.
Minnesota went with the 23-year-old Wallstedt in net over playoff-experienced Filip Gustavsson, who in his playoff debut three years ago had 51 saves in a 3-2 double-overtime win at Dallas.
Wallstedt's first NHL game was a 7-2 loss at Dallas in January 2024, but that was only one of five games he played for the Wild until this regular season, when he went 4-1 with a 1.82 goals-against average and .936 save percentage his last five starts. He also had four shutouts in a six-game span early this season.
The Wild still led only 1-0 with Dallas on the power play midway through the first period when Wallstedt, shielded and looking to the right of traffic, reached back to his left to make a glove save on a shot by Robertson.
Oettinger, who grew up about 30 miles from Minnesota's home arena, stopped 23 shots to open his 11th postseason series as the Stars starting goalie.
AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Minnesota Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt (30) reacts with left wing Matt Boldy (12) after defeating the Dallas Stars 6-1 in Game 1 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoffs hockey series, Saturday, April 18, 2026, in Dallas, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Minnesota Wild players, right, celebrate a goal by Ryan Hartman as Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger, left, stands in his crease during the second period in Game 1 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoffs hockey series, Saturday, April 18, 2026, in Dallas, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Dallas Stars right wing Mikko Rantanen (96) is dropped to the ice while scuffling with Minnesota Wild players during the second period in Game 1 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoffs hockey series, Saturday, April 18, 2026, in Dallas, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Minnesota Wild left wing Matt Boldy, left, congratulates Joel Eriksson Ek, center, after his power play goal against the Dallas Stars during the first period in Game 1 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoffs hockey series, Saturday, April 18, 2026, in Dallas, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
A shot by Minnesota Wild center Joel Eriksson Ek (14) enters the net of Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger, center, for a goal during the first period in Game 1 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoffs hockey series, Saturday, April 18, 2026, in Dallas, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
