ST. PAUL, Minn. (Interstat) — The Colorado Avalanche can take a stranglehold on their first-round playoff series against the Minnesota Wild on Monday, when Game 4 is set for 7 p.m. CDT at Grand Casino Arena. Colorado leads the best-of-seven series 2-1 after a 5-2 victory at home Tuesday. The Avalanche, the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, boast a 61-27 record across all competitions. Minnesota, the No. 4 seed, enters at 50-40. The Wild kept the series alive with a 4-1 win at home in Game 3 on Saturday, cutting Colorado’s series lead to 2-1. Minnesota will look to even the series before the teams return to Denver for Game 5 on Wednesday. Colorado center Ross Colton has been a steady contributor in the postseason. He recorded one assist and one hit in Tuesday’s victory and posted an assist in a 9-6 win in Game 2 on May 3. Over his last five games, Colton has recorded four shots on goal and three hits. Minnesota forward Marcus Johansson has been the Wild’s most consistent offensive threat. He scored a goal on four shots in Tuesday’s loss and also scored in Game 2. Over his last nine games, Johansson has two goals, three assists and 21 shots on goal. Colorado’s offense has been potent in the series. Nathan MacKinnon had a goal, two assists and five shots on goal in the Game 3 win. Kirill Kaprizov matched that output for Minnesota, with a goal and four shots. The Avalanche have dominated the season series, winning five of eight meetings. Colorado has scored at least five goals in four of those wins, including a 9-6 victory May 3. The Wild’s only two wins in the series came in Game 3 and a 3-2 shootout victory Nov. 28. Monday’s game marks the fourth meeting between the teams in 10 days. The series continues Wednesday in Denver, with a potential Game 6 back in St. Paul on Friday. The winner of this series will face either Dallas or Los Angeles in the second round.