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Colorado Wins Series 4-2

Game Recaps

With only two minutes left in the third period of a 2-2 tie game, Colorado's Ryan Smyth (who saw a goal of his disallowed earlier) was stuffed on a penalty shot by Minnesota's Nik Backstrom. A brilliant save, Backstrom got his right pad on Smyth's deke just in the nick of time.

But it was Joe Sakic in overtime, who added to his legacy by scoring the 3-2 OT winner against Backstrom at 11:11 of OT.

Colorado went ahead 2-0 on two second period goals, first by defenseman Kurt Sauer, then on a power play goal by Smyth, which came on the Avs' only man advantage on the night.

The Wild struck back in the third frame, with Mikko Koivo scoring at 3:02, then assisting on Todd Fedoruk's goal at 6:13.

Jose Theodore continued his hot play of late, stopping 28 Wild shots.

COL leads 1-0

With Nick Schultz and Kurtis Foster out due to injury, 16-year vet Keith Carney played the role of hero, scoring the overtime winner against the Avalanche Friday night at XCel Energy Center.

Minnesota's Mikko Koivu scored on a slap shot with 1:49 remaining in regulation, giving the Wild the lead for the first time, 58:11 into the game.

But with 1:09 left, Milan Hejduk scored to send the game to overtime.

"It was tough because we thought we had the game won there in the third, a questionable call on the penalty, but we just talked about refocusing and not letting that beat us," Carney said. "Just continuing to play our game and do the right things on the ice. We felt if we did that then we'd get the right result."

Nicklas Backstrom made 24 saves, Theodore, 28. Pavol Demitra of the Wild and Peter Forsberg of the Avs scored their first playoff goals.

Series tied, 1-1
 

Pierre-Marc Bouchard scored the winner at 11:58 of overtime, converting a Brian Rolston pass, to give the Wild a 3-2 win.

It was the third straight overtime game in this first-round series, with the Wild winning two of them.

Going back to 2003, the teams have played five straight overtime games in the playoffs, all of which ended in 3-2 scores.

"We were fortunate on the last goal," Wild coach Jacques Lemaire said. "I guess he thought there was an icing. The puck never got across the other side of the net, so Ralston could get it and make that play to Bouchard. It's strange the way it happened, but sometimes you need a break to win, and we got it."

Joe Sakic of Colorado scored late in the third to even the game at two.

Minnesota leads 2-1

Andrew Brunette, Wojtek Wolski and Tyler Arnason scored first period goals as the Avs crushed the Wild, 5-1, to even their series at two apiece in Denver Tuesday night.

Ruslan Salei and Milan Hejduk expanded the Colorado lead to 5-0 with second period goals.

Arnason and Salei each had a goal and an assist, and Jordan Leopold had two assists.

Minnesota tough guy Derek Boogaard was whistled for hooking and also received a 10-minute misconduct for a flagrant elbow to David Jones after the play.  Boogaard was ejected in the third when he received his second 10-minute misconduct.

Colorado's Peter Forsberg was limited to just 12:44 TOI, but finished a +2.

Series tied 2-2

Wojtek Wolski and Paul Stastny scored 79 seconds apart early in the third period to give the Avs a 3-2 victory on Thursday and a 3-2 series lead.

Andrew Brunette scored on the power play at 12:24 of the first period, then Pierre-Marc Bouchard evened the score for Minnesota with :40 left in the opening frame.

Brian Rolston scored for the Wild with three seconds left in regulation, but it was too little, too late for Minnesota, who face elimination in game six.

The Avalanche were outshot 40-17 as goaltender Jose Theodore stopped 38 shots, weathering a tremendous Minnesota effort.

Colorado leads 3-2

Ben Guite scored a shorthanded goal at 8:02 of the first period and Ryan Smyth added the winner at 12:20 of the second as the Colorado Avalanche eliminated the Minnesota Wild at Pepsi Center in Denver Saturday night.

Avalanche goalie Jose Theodore continued his excellent play, stopping 34 of 35 Wild shots. He was clearly the difference for the Avs in this series. The Wild held the lead for only 4 minutes 31 seconds of the series as Theodore thwarted one Wild offensive onslaught after another. Theodore finished the series with a 1.88GAA and .940 SV%.

Minnesota, which won its first division title this season, saw its major offensive weapons, Marian Gaborik and Pavol Demitra, shut down during this postseason. Gaborik registered just one assist in the series, Demitra, one goal, two assists for three points.

Gritty forward Andrew Brunette led the Avs with three goals, two assists for five points.

Colorado Wins Series 4-2