Wild get beat, and beat up, as Avalanche ramp up the physical play

TL;DR

The Colorado Avalanche defeated the Minnesota Wild 5-2, showcasing a more physical style of play. With this win, the Avalanche improved to 6-0 in the playoffs and took a 2-0 series lead.

Key points

Avalanche won 5-2 against the Wild
Avalanche improved to 6-0 in playoffs
Avalanche took a 2-0 series lead
Increased physical play noted during the game
Brock Nelson delivered a hard check on Ryan Hartman

Colorado AvalancheMinnesota Wild

DENVER — Among the many, many things they have done well this season on the way to the NHL’s best 82-game record, and a 6-0 mark in the playoffs so far, the Colorado Avalanche added an element in their 5-2 win over the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday.

They got physical. Or at least, more physical than some might have expected.

Yes, it’s the playoffs, where the tougher team usually wins. That’s something the Dallas Stars are probably thinking about right now, as they work on their chipping and their putting on a Texas golf course somewhere. By Game 6 of the Wild’s first round dispatching of the Stars, Minnesota had clearly worn Dallas down with relentless physical play.

With a commanding 3-1 lead in the final period of Game 2 on Tuesday, less than 20 minutes away from a 2-0 lead in the series, the high-flying Avalanche transitioned to the hard-hitting Avalanche, much to the delight of the sellout crowd at Ball Arena.

Brock Nelson leveled Wild center Ryan Hartman with a hard, but clean, check in front of the Colorado net.

Nathan MacKinnon threw Wild star Matt Boldy, hard and head first, into the corner boards. No call.

Former Wild defenseman Brent Burns threw Kirill Kaprizov hard against the side boards, then followed it up with a kick to an area where no man likes to be kicked.

In a post-whistle scrum, Avalanche center Parker Kelly managed to first inadvertently punch a linesman in the face, then quite advertently punch Boldy in the face, dropping the Wild star to the ice. There were no penalties for either.

Later in the third, with Quinn Hughes doing the quick moves and changes of direction that are so effective and beloved by Wild fans, MacKinnon caught up to him and just knocked Hughes to the ice. The audience erupted, unmuffled by the May snowstorm pelting Denver outside the rink.