Avalanche finally solve Wild with 4-3 win

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Matt Hendricks scored short-handed to cap a three-goal second period for Colorado, and the Avalanche hung on to beat the Minnesota Wild on Monday 4-3 for the first time in five tries this season.

Matt Duchene, Chris Stewart and Milan Hejduk also had goals for the Avs, who took advantage of uncharacteristic sloppiness by Niklas Backstrom and the Wild and beat Minnesota in regulation for only the second time in the past 16 regular-season matchups between these Northwest Division opponents.

Barely.

Owen Nolan and Martin Havlat scored less than two minutes apart midway through the third period, with Havlat's breakaway cutting the once-wide lead to one with 6:03 left and sending the crowd into a frenzy.

Craig Anderson faced a flurry of shots, including a bad bounce off the board that almost caught him out of position, in the final minutes but finished strong with 28 saves.