After a disappointing loss to the Flames just two nights ago, the Wild were looking for a game to show them they still belonged at the top of the Conference. In their last game before the All-Star break, the Wild outlasted the Colorado Avalanche 3-2 in a win that put them back into first place in the Northwest Division. Pavol Demitra scored his 10th goal of the season and Niklas Backstrom made 28 saves to pace the Wild against a depleted Avalanche lineup. Without stars Joe Sakic, Ryan Smyth, and Paul Statsny, Colorado kept the game close, but in the end it was the healthy team that took home the W.
Todd Fedoruk got the Wild on the board first as he scored on a nice tip-in from a pass right down the middle from Demitra just five and a half minutes into the contest. After escaping defenders in the neutral zone, Demitra skated down the left boards and shot a pass across the ice to Fedoruk, who was streaking down the middle waiting for the tip. Just 8 minutes later, the Wild doubled their lead when Marian Gaborik found Brian Rolston sneaking up the middle of Colorado's zone. Rolston held the puck for a second, and then blasted a patented Rolston slapper past Jose Theodore, who was just hoping to get a piece of the puck. The Wild thought that they would be able to close out the first with a two-goal lead, but former Wild forward Andrew Brunette connected on a wrist shot to get the Avalanche back within one with 28 seconds remaining in the period.
The second period opened quickly when Marek Svatos found Wojtek Wolski with a wide-open net to put Colorado back even with the Wild just two and a half minutes into the frame. Both teams had their chances after that goal, but Theodore and Backstrom held strong for their teams. The Wild finally cashed in at the 13:41 mark of the second when Demitra caught a pass from defensemen Kurtis Foster and scored the eventual game-winner on a wrist-shot from just inside the slot. The rest of the game featured shots back and forth, but nothing to show for it, leaving the Wild with the edge 3-2.
This was a huge win for the Wild, going into the All-Star break beating Vancouver and Colorado within 4 days is big at any point in the season, especially now. It is imperative the Wild figure out what they need to work on and fix it going into the home stretch of the season. Every game from here on out can decide whether the Wild end up with the 3rd seed in the playoffs or if they miss the post-season completely. Hopefully the Wild can use the momentum they picked up with this recent road trip and use it to their advantage. Most of the Wild now get a few days off to recuperate and be with their family. Gaborik will be traveling to Atlanta to partake in the All-Star Game festivities (he is slated to be part of the inaugural Breakaway Challenge). After the break, the Wild get right back to work taking on the Anaheim Ducks at home before traveling to Columbus and then coming right back home to take on the Red Wings, Stars, and Islanders.
My Three Stars for game #50 in Colorado:
1) Pavol Demitra
2) Wojtek Wolski
3) Todd Fedoruk
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