Six goals not enough as Colorado hits Wild with offensive onslaught

They doubled the lead less than a minute later on when a failed clearing attempt below the goal line landed on the stick of fourth-liner Jack Drury, and he popped a shot over Wallstedt’s right shoulder.

It got worse, quickly, when the Avalanche converted on their first power play of the series to grab a 3-0 lead with plenty of time left in the first. Enough time for the Wild to provide a much-needed answer when Johansson grabbed a loose puck low the offensive zone and snapped a shot past Wedgewood. It was the second goal of the playoffs for Johansson.

Just 62 seconds later, the Wild made it a one-goal game when Hughes made a spinning backhand pass from the corner to the top of the crease. Hartman caught the pass and poked it low past Wedgewood while being buried by a Brent Burns check.

Minnesota’s power play again failed to convert early in the middle frame, and instead of a tie game, the Wild found themselves down by a pair when Avs defenseman Nick Blankenburg ended a high-speed rush to the net with his first career playoff goal. But again the Wild had an answer, when Tarasenko scored his second goal in as many games with a nifty backhand stick move at the top of the crease.

They finally drew even later in the second when Hughes wired a long shot through traffic into the upper left corner of the net. With much of the Ball Arena crowd in stunned silence, the Minnesota fans in attendance started up a noticeably loud “Let’s Go Wild” chant about then.

They were back in full throat a few minutes later when Marcus Foligno got loose on a shorthanded breakaway and slipped the puck past Wedgewood, giving Minnesota its first lead.

The jubilation was short-lived, as Colorado made it 5-5 with just under two minutes to play in the period. It was an even strength goal, but came just two seconds after Brock Faber had been released from the penalty box.

The Wild had worn down the Stars in Round 1 with relentless physical play and set the tone early in the game versus Colorado. Nick Foligno delivered a hard hit on Avs defenseman Makar, who left the game for most of the first period. He played just two shifts in the opening 20 minutes, but returned returned to assist on Blankenburg’s goal in the second, then scored early in the third to give Colorado a 6-5 lead. Kadri got his first of the playoffs a few minutes later.

Zuccarello’s goal with just over four minutes to play again pulled Minnesota back within one, but Makar’s second of the night with 2:54 left was the clincher. Nathan MacKinnon hit an empty net less than a minute later.

With veteran defenseman Jonas Brodin injured and unavailable for the first two games of this series at minimum, the Wild slotted in Daemon Hunt on the third defensive pair for Game 1. It was the career playoff debut for Hunt, who turns 24 this month. In place of injured second line center Joel Eriksson Ek, the Wild returned rookie Danila Yurov to the lineup. He had played the first four games of the Dallas series without a point and was -3 versus the Stars.

Related Articles

• Wild, Avalanche players got taste of pressure hockey in Olympic Games
• Wild missing Joel Eriksson Ek and Jonas Brodin for first two games vs. Avs
• Wild holding free watch party for Game 1 tonight at Grand Casino Arena
• Minnesota Wild, Grand Casino Arena offset carbon emissions with trees
• Here is the Wild-Avalanche playoff schedule