Stanley Cup Playoffs

Teenager Nathan MacKinnon is growing up fast. Almost as fast as he skates. The speedy 18-year-old delivered another stellar performance for the Colorado Avalanche, scoring his first NHL postseason goal and dishing out three assists in a 4-2 win over the Minnesota Wild on Saturday night.

Paul Stastny scored 7:27 into overtime after tying the game with 13.4 seconds remaining in regulation, lifting the Colorado Avalanche to a 5-4 win over the Minnesota Wild in the opener of the Western Conference quarterfinals on Thursday night.

Marian Hossa scored twice to back a strong effort by goalie Corey Crawford, and the Chicago Blackhawks beat the Minnesota Wild 5-1 Thursday night to win their first-round playoff series 4-1.

Patrick Sharp scored two goals for Chicago, and the Blackhawks ratcheted up their defense, putting the Minnesota Wild on the brink of elimination with a 3-0 victory Tuesday night.

Jason Zucker scored at 2:15 of overtime on a bad-angle shot to give the Minnesota Wild a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday. The win pulls the Wild within 2-1 in their Western Conference quarterfinal series.

Bryan Bickell scored in overtime on a two-on-one rush, and the Chicago Blackhawks started the playoffs on a winning note after dominating the regular season, beating the Minnesota Wild 2-1 Tuesday night.

For all their accomplishments so far — the record-breaking start, the Presidents’ Trophy, the individual honors — the Chicago Blackhawks know this is the time of year that will define their season. They said the same thing all along. Jonathan Toews and Co. also know all the reasons for concern heading into their playoff series against the Minnesota Wild.

Devin Setoguchi broke a second-period tie and Niklas Backstrom stopped 29 shots, helping the Minnesota Wild secure their first playoff spot in five years with a 3-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday night.