NHL: Minnesota 4, Colorado 3

DENVER, Feb. 23 (UPI) -- Mikko Koivu scored the game-winning goal with 2:14 remaining Thursday night as the Minnesota Wild held off Colorado, 4-3.

Koivu's goal gave the Wild a 4-2 advantage after Colorado had cut a three-goal deficit to one.

Todd White scored for Minnesota, and Wyatt Smith produced a goal for the first time in 93 games. Niklas Backstrom made 28 saves in helping Minnesota win its fifth game in seven outings.

Ken Klee and Brad Richardson scored during the third period to get Colorado back in the game, but the Avalanche gave up Koivu's decisive goal on an odd-man rush after defenseman Jeff Finger broke his stick.