Avalanche 4, Wild 2: Captain Gabriel Landeskog scored twice while rookie Nathan MacKinnon and Paul Stastny followed three-point performances in the opener with four-point efforts as host Colorado held on to seize a 2-0 lead in its Western Conference first-round series.

MacKinnon registered a goal and three assists after setting up three tallies in the opener for the Avalanche, who overcame a deficit for the second straight time. Stastny collected a power-play goal and three assists following a two-goal, one-assist effort and Semyon Varlamov made 30 saves.

Charlie Coyle and defenseman Marco Scandella tallied for the Wild, who host Game 3 on Monday. Captain Mikko Koivu notched a pair of assists and Ilya Bryzgalov allowed three goals on 14 shots before being replaced by rookie Darcy Kuemper, who turned aside all 14 shots he faced.

Minnesota got on the board first as Coyle was credited with his second goal of the series when Koivu's pass from along the left-wing boards caromed off him in the crease and into the net 4:18 into the game. MacKinnon took over after that, taking the puck in his own zone and weaving past defenders before beating Bryzgalov to the stick side from the top of the right faceoff circle at 6:20.

The 18-year-old made a drop pass to Landeskog for a snap shot from the right circle 2:58 into the second for a 2-1 lead, then dished the puck to Stastny, who set up Landeskog for his second tally at 11:59 with a cross-slot backhand pass from the left circle. Scandella converted a feed from Koivu while short-handed with 1:19 left in the third, but Stastny scored into an empty net to seal it.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Stastny's goal ended Colorado's 0-for-21 stretch on the power play against Minnesota dating back to last season. ... Kuemper was back in uniform after missing eight contests - including Game 1 - with an upper-body injury. ... Stastny has recorded 19 points in his last 13 postseason games.