Wild defeat Avalanche, clinch second place in Central Division

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The Minnesota Wild clinched second place in the Central Division with a 4-1 win against the Colorado Avalanche at Xcel Energy Center on Friday.

Jordan Greenway scored twice for the Wild (53-22-7), who will host the St. Louis Blues in Game 1 of the Western Conference First Round on Monday. Kirill Kaprizov had a goal and an assist, and Marc-Andre Fleury made 27 saves.

Minnesota finished 10-1-2 in its final 13 regular-season games and had 113 points, a team record.
"Three games ago (a 5-3 loss to the Arizona Coyotes on Tuesday) we didn't [get two points], and I'm sure everybody's thinking well maybe (we) lost our opportunity there," Wild coach Dean Evason said. "But then the Calgary game (a 3-2 overtime win against the Calgary Flames on Thursday), we played right.
"Second period, we didn't (play well) tonight and we reinforced that after the game, but the first and third were real good. We did all the right things as far as protecting, preserving the leads that we had. To ask if me if I'm proud? No, it's expected from our group and they've shown us that they've done that all year, so it's not a shock."
Nazem Kadri scored for the Avalanche (56-19-7), the No. 1 seed in the West who will face the Nashville Predators, the second wild card, in the first round. Pavel Francouz made 18 saves.
Colorado rested forwards Valeri Nichuskin and Nathan MacKinnon, defensemen Bowen Byram, Devon Toews and Cale Makar, and goalie Darcy Kuemper.
The Avalanche will host the Predators in Game 1 on Tuesday
"It was a no-brainer," Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. "In the standings it didn't mean anything for us, so get a bunch of our guys in that had been sitting out here lately, give them an opportunity, get a big game in against a tough opponent. Less wear and tear on some of the guys we left behind who've been playing a lot and playing really well.
"(I) just sort of thought we'd take that wear and tear off for a bit, just give them that extra 24 hours to kind of decompress and mentally, physically rest."
Greenway gave Minnesota a 1-0 lead 58 seconds into the first period, and Tyson Jost made it 2-0 at 4:12 after Kaprizov circled the defensive zone twice before feeding Jost in the slot.

Kaprizov extended the lead to 3-0 during a scramble in the crease at 3:46 of the second period.
Kadri cut it to 3-1 at 5:38 after his shot bounced off Fleury.
Greenway scored an empty-net goal with 32 seconds left in the third period for the 4-1 final.
"Playoffs is big time with that home ice," Wild captain Jared Spurgeon said. "Obviously you're going to have to win games on the road as well, but to start here at home with the crowd we've had and the energy that's been in the building is something we're looking forward to.
"Tonight was a game we had to win to get that so we did a good job, but we're looking forward for playoffs to start."
NOTES: Wild forward Marcus Foligno left the game at 5:28 of the first after a collision with Avalanche defenseman Kurtis MacDermid, who was assessed a five-minute major penalty for kneeing and a game misconduct. There was no update on Foligno's status. … Spurgeon and Minnesota defenseman Matt Dumba each returned from an upper-body injury. Spurgeon, who missed two games, had an assist and was plus-2 in 22:11 of ice time; Dumba, who missed 12 games, had an assist in 18:24. … Colorado finished the regular season with 119 points, a team record. … Minnesota set team records for most wins (31) and points (64) at home.