Avalanche Sweep Wild In Home And Home

Nov 10, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche left wing

(92) skates with the puck during the first period against the Washington Capitals at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Gabriel Landeskog would get the Colorado Avalanche on the board with a weird goal, but it would count. It would be his ninth goal of the season, assisted by John Mitchell. Jamie McGinn would give the Avs a scoring chance on a 2-on-1 opportunity as he tried to play the puck across for Paul Stastny, but Jared Spurgeon would deflect it. Wild’s Zach Parise would try to tie the game up on an open chance in front of the net, but goaltender Semyon Varlamov made a nice save.

The Minnesota Wild almost scored on one of the most bizarre plays I’ve ever seen. Torrey Mitchell would bring the puck in from behind Colorado’s net and the puck would stop right on the red line. The play would be reviewed after a stoppage and the play stood, as the puck didn’t completely cross the goal line. Paul Stastny almost had a puck trickle into the net after a shot on Josh Harding; the puck would go through his pads and the defender Spurgeon would hit the puck out before it reached the net.

The Avalanche would control the puck for most of the first period, but the Wild came on late. The first-period would end with the Avs still ahead, 1-0, and the shots on net would be equal at 11.

Jared Spurgeon took a shot on net in the second period and Charlie Coyle almost had himself a goal with a tip, the Wild were doing a great job of getting bodies out in front of Colorado’s net. Varly would rob Torrey Mitchell‘s backhand attempt on a 1-on-1 opportunity. He made some goal preventing saves in the second period on Mitchell, and Dany Heatley. Nathan MacKinnon would make the Minnesota Wild pay off of a turnover in their own zone, as he scored his fifth goal of the season on a top-shelf shot, assisted by John Mitchell and Ryan O’Reilly putting the Avs ahead 2-0.

Paul Stastny would be found in front of the net by P.A. Parenteau, but he would get the puck poke-checked away from Harding. The Avalanche would lead the Wild 2-0 after 2, even though Minnesota would out-shoot them 22-19.

Varlamov would shut the door on Mikko Koivu as he slid to his right, preventing the goal. He made some remarkable saves as the game progressed. The refs would let the Wild and Avalanche play as there were no penalties called in the game. Matt Cooke would get on the board late in the 3rd period at the 3:27 mark for the Wild as Mitchell found him on the far side of the net, it would be his fourth goal of the season.

Mikko Koivu would score with four seconds remaining in the game after a failed attempt by the Avalanche to get it out of the zone. He would be assisted by Zach Parise and Jason Pominville as it tied the game up 2-2 going into overtime. The Wild would out shoot the Avalanche 33-22 at the end of regulation.

The Avalanche and Wild wouldn’t manage to score in overtime, as the game would advance to a shootout. This is the first shootout the Avalanche have participated in all season. Parenteau would go first for the Avalanche as his shot went off of Harding’s glove and was blocked. Parise would be up for Minnesota as his backhand went off the post and bounced away from the net and no good. MacKinnon was next for Colorado, and his shot went off of Harding’s shoulder and away from the net, no good. Koivu was up for the Wild, his backhand would be stuffed by Varlamov. Next was O’Reilly for the Avs and his shot went under the pads of Harding and into the net. Last chance for Minnesota was Pominville, and his shot was a glove save by Varly, as the Avalanche picked up the victory, 3-2.

Colorado Avalanche would improve to 19-6-0 on the season with 38 points. They will be on the road next Thursday as they take on the Edmonton Oilers. Puck-Drop at 7:30.

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