Avs and Wild mirror each other with star power, elite defensemen and veterans trying to win 1st Cup

DENVER (AP) — In many ways, Colorado and Minnesota mirror each other.

Like, carbon-copy close.

There’s the similar star power component ( Nathan MacKinnon for the Avalanche, Kirill Kaprizov for the Wild). There’s the playmaking defensemen (Cale Makar, Quinn Hughes ), the dependable goalies ( Scott Wedgewood, Jesper Wallstedt) and the veterans searching for their first Stanley Cup (Brent Burns, Nick Foligno ).

It's why this second-round series that starts Sunday night in Denver seems so compelling. Two of the last three times the Wild and Avalanche have met in the playoffs it’s gone seven games. That includes their last matchup, a 2014 first-round series, in which a Minnesota team with Jared Spurgeon — before his days as Wild captain — beat a Colorado squad that featured MacKinnon making his NHL playoff debut.

“It’s going to be another big battle,” said Marcus Foligno, whose team eliminated Dallas, the nemesis of the Avalanche, in six games to advance. “We’re mentally ready for it.”

These two Central Division rivals are evenly matched. They went 2-1-1 against the other in the regular season, with each winning a game in regulation and losing in a shootout.

“As the coach, I can steer them which way I think ... how hard it’s going to go,” said Avalanche coach Jared Bednar, whose squad swept the Los Angeles Kings in the first round. “But they've got to go and feel it. They have to go and engage in it.”

The Wild enter the series after a bruising series with the Stars and the Avalanche are rested after a week off. The high-scoring Avalanche proved they could play any sort of style, too, with a pair of 2-1 wins — including one in OT — against the Kings.

The Presidents' Trophy-winning Avs don't mind being the Cup favorites.

“It doesn't really mean nothing unless you're the last team standing,” forward Nazem Kadri said. “We're going to have to be ready for everything they throw at us.”

The break gave Colorado a chance to heal up. Defenseman Josh Manson is dealing with an upper-body injury. The Wild are banged up, too, with forward Joel Eriksson Ek questionable because of a lower-body injury. Defenseman Jonas Brodin (lower body) didn't make the trip.

Makar and Hughes are the last two winners of the James Norris Memorial Trophy as the league’s top defenseman. Makar is coming off a regular season in which he had 20 goals and 59 assists. He has scored goals in each of the last two playoff games.

Hughes was acquired as part of a deal with Vancouver on Dec. 12. He finished with five goals and 48 assists with Minnesota in the regular season while averaging nearly 28 minutes a games on the ice. That's up to 31:40 in the postseason. Hughes had two goals and an assist in the series clincher.

“It’s no surprise," teammate Brock Faber said. "Big-time players step up in big-time games, and that is what he did."

For Team USA, this is almost a reunion. Brock Nelson, Hughes, Faber and Matt Boldy helped the Americans to a 2-1 overtime win over Canada for their first Olympic gold medal in 46 years. Wild coach John Hynes was on the coaching staff and general manager Bill Guerin helped assemble the team. Canada featured Avalanche defensemen Devon Toews and Makar, along with MacKinnon.

“Something we will remember forever,” Nelson said. “But now put friendships on pause.”

The Wild are 5-14 in their 25-year history in playoff series. They’ve made it past the second round only once (2003). Their win over the Stars marked the first time they've been out of the first round since 2015. Faber, who is from Maple Grove, Minnesota, was nearly 12 at the time.

“I don’t remember it,” Faber said. “We write our own story. Every team has their own story. Every team has their own ups and downs.”

Avalanche defenseman Brent Burns is chasing his first Stanley Cup title at 41 years old and in his 22nd NHL season. He began his career with the Wild, who made him the 20th pick of the 2003 draft. Burns played in Minnesota from 2003-04 to '10-11.

“That’s a long time ago,” Makar said with a smile.

AP Sports Writer Dave Campbell in Minnesota contributed to this report.

AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Minnesota Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt reacts to an open net goal by teammate left wing Kirill Kaprizov against the Dallas Stars during the third period in Game 5 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoffs hockey series, Tuesday, April 28, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Los Angeles Kings' Anze Kopitar (11) watches a shot by Joel Edmundson get past Colorado Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood for goal during the second period of Game 4 in the first round of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Sunday, April 26, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Scott Strazzante)

Minnesota Wild left wing Kirill Kaprizov (97) skates by his bench after scoring an open net goal against the Dallas Stars during the third period in Game 5 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoffs hockey series, Tuesday, April 28, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Colorado Avalanche's Nathan MacKinnon (29) passes the puck against the Los Angeles Kings during the first period of Game 4 in the first round of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Sunday, April 26, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Scott Strazzante)

SEATTLE (AP) — The collapse of the U.S.-based Spirit Airlines may mark the end of an era for travelers with a certain financial sensibility.

But if you’ve been snagged in their now-defunct flight schedule, here are some things to know on how to get home, and get whole.

Many airlines that used to compete with Spirit are now parachuting in with deals to save their travelers. Airlines including American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, Frontier Airlines and Southwest Airlines are capping or reducing ticket prices for people to book new flights.

There is a limited window for this deal, which prioritizes now-stranded travelers who need to find a new way to their next destination.

For example, Southwest’s offer is only available in person at an airport ticket counter through Wednesday, May 6, according to industry trade group, Airlines for America and the U.S. Department of Transportation. United, meanwhile, is allowing such bookings for up to two weeks, which can be accessed online.

For those who were planning to fly Spirit and now need to find an alternative to the ultra low cost carrier, American, Allegiant, Frontier and Delta advertised reduced fares on the same routes Spirit once flew.

Many company announcements include maps showing where its routes overlapped with Spirits, which can help narrow the search to find a comparable flight.

“Spirit Airlines played an important role in expanding access to affordable travel and bringing more low fares to more people,” said Bobby Schroeter, Frontier’s chief commercial officer. “We recognize this is a difficult time for their customers and team members.

Spirit Airlines said they were prepared for an “orderly wind-down” of its operations, and that it will automatically process refunds for any flights booked on a credit or debit card.

Travelers who booked through third-party travel agencies should direct refund requests to those agents.

Anyone else who got their reservation through vouchers, credit or points will have to wait and see though Spirit’s bankruptcy process.

If there are questions about whether your money will make a safe landing back to your wallet, there are other ways to try to claw back your cash for the Spirit flight not taken.

The DOT suggests contacting your credit card company and exercising your rights under the Fair Credit Billing Act, by requesting a “chargeback” for services not rendered.

If you purchased travel insurance or it is included in your credit card’s policy and perks, call them to see if they cover “insolvency” or “service cessation.”

The last resort would be filing a bankruptcy claim but officials warn this route eats up time and money, and ultimately may only result in a partial refund.

The National Consumers League warned travelers to keep all documentation to prove they were booked for Spirit flights, including receipts, booking confirmations, cancellation notices, and any correspondence with the airline. The nonprofit watchdog organization also urged those affected to act immediately as credit card and insurance companies may have strict deadlines that can be time-sensitive.

“Not all Spirit customers should assume a refund will automatically appear,” said John Breyault, the league’s vice president of public policy, telecommunications, and fraud. “When an airline shuts down this suddenly, it’s up to travelers to take proactive steps to have the best chance of getting their money back.”

American and United both said it is trying to adjust its fleet so it can help more stranded passengers. American said it is looking into tapping larger planes and United said it is potentially adding additional flights on routes where they overlapped with Spirit.

“We are reviewing opportunities to add additional capacity, including utilizing larger aircraft on critical routes — to support as many affected passengers as possible,” American said via an Airlines for America statement.

Southwest also said it will offer a status-match, by honoring Spirit’s Silver and Gold status members with its own A-List program.

The car rental company Hertz is also advertising deals for alternative transportation, offering one-way vehicles and up to 25% off for those find “the road might be the fastest way home in scenarios like this one.”

Spirit crew members who are stuck at their destination should be granted airline travel benefits, including spare jump seats where available on most major carriers.

American said: “We will provide transportation for Spirit team members who have been displaced on a work trip,” according to an Airlines for America statement.

The DOT also said the other companies are offering preferential interviews to help expedite the job search for former Spirit pilots, flight attendants and other employees. American said it will be setting up recruiting events for those former employees.

FILE - A Spirit Airlines 319 Airbus approaches Manchester Boston Regional Airport for a landing, June 2, 2023, in Manchester, N.H. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)

An electronic check-in kiosk announces Spirit Airlines’ shutdown on Saturday, May 2, 2026 at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jeff Amy)

A sign announces Spirit Airlines’ shutdown on Saturday, May 2, 2026 at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jeff Amy)