NHL: Colorado 3, Minnesota 1

ST. PAUL, Minn., Nov. 29 (UPI) -- Nathan MacKinnon's deflection early in the second period put Colorado in front by two goals Friday and the Avalanche held on to defeat Minnesota 3-1.

The Wild climbed within one when Dany Heatley scored with 4:58 to go in the middle period, but Jean-Sebastien Giguere held onto the lead until Gabriel Landeskog produced an empty-net goal in the final minute.

Jan Hejda opened the scoring for Colorado 3:45 into the game with a slap shot that beat Josh Harding.

Colorado handed Minnesota its third straight loss.

Giguere stopped 27-of-28 shots while Harding made 18 saves in defeat.