Minnesota Wild Summary

In a thrilling Game 1 of the second round of the NHL playoffs, the Minnesota Wild fell to the Colorado Avalanche 9-6 in a high-scoring affair. Cale Makar made a significant impact for Colorado, scoring twice in the third period after returning from injury, solidifying the Avalanche's lead with an empty-net goal from Nathan MacKinnon.

The game featured a remarkable 15 combined goals, with Minnesota initially trailing 3-0 before rallying to take a 5-4 lead, propelled by Marcus Foligno's short-handed goal. However, the Avalanche responded with goals from Devon Toews and others, ultimately sealing the game with MacKinnon's goal.

The Wild were without key center Joel Eriksson Ek, who missed the first two games of the series due to a lower-body injury sustained in the previous round against the Dallas Stars. In Eriksson Ek's absence, Daemon Hunt made his playoff debut.

Vladimir Tarasenko showcased his skills with a standout goal during the Wild's comeback efforts, reflecting the team's resilience. The series continues with Game 2 on Tuesday night in Denver. According to CBS Sports, the Avalanche swept the Los Angeles Kings in the first round and came into this series as heavy favorites, while the Wild advanced past the Dallas Stars for their first series win since 2015.