DENVER (AP) -- Carson McMillan broke a tie midway through the third period after stealing the puck at center ice and Niklas Backstrom stopped 24 shots as the Minnesota Wild broke out of their road funk with a 3-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday night.

Justin Falk scored his first NHL goal and Dany Heatley added another for the Wild, who halted an 11-game winless streak away home. They also moved into the eighth and final playoff spot in their final game before the All-Star break, leaping over Colorado.

T.J. Galiardi and Chuck Kobasew scored for the Avalanche.

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