DENVER — With a chance to climb atop the Central Division standings, in as close as the Avalanche have come to a playoff game all season, Colorado made the exact mistakes early that teams in big moments can’t afford. A strong final period couldn’t erase the sins of the first and second. “We handed them a couple goals,” coach Jared Bednar said Wednesday after Colorado’s 4-2 loss to Minnesota. “It’s a game of mistakes, and we made some big ones.” Advertisement Added Cale Makar: “Just not good enough from us.” Strong Minnesota goaltending neutralized Colorado’s offense, but that wasn’t the…