Final
Avalanche, Wild meet in possible playoff preview
Mar 17, 2008 - 1:28 PM Colorado (39-28-6) at Minnesota (38-26-8) 7:00 pm EDTST. PAUL, Minnesota (Ticker) - Monday's game between the Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Wild could be a preview of a first-round Western Conference playoff series.
The two teams meet for the sixth time in the eight-game regular season series. The Wild have won three of the previous five games, including the last two.
A 4-2 loss to New Jersey on Saturday ended a two-game winning streak for the Avalanche.
"It wasn't one of our better performances in the last two weeks," said Colorado center Joe Sakic.
The Wild ended a five-game winless streak, which included three consecutive shootout losses, with a 2-0 home victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday. Niklas Backstrom had 24 saves in his first shutout since October 10 against Edmonton.
"If we want to make the playoffs, that's the way it has to be," Backstrom said. "I have to be there and make the saves when the team needs that and help them so they don't have to score four or five goals every night."
Left wing Brian Rolston had two goals and two assists against the Avalanche this season. Center Eric Belanger has a pair of goals vs. Colorado. Avalanche center Dave Bolland has a pair of goals against Minnesota this season.
Colorado is still battling injuries. Defenseman Adam Foote, who was acquired from Columbus last month, has missed the last two games with a hip injury. Peter Forsberg has been out four games with a groin injury and has played in only three contests since signing with the Avalanche.
- CORRECTION
NHL FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
COLORADO 0 1 0 1
MINNESOTA 1 1 1 3 FINAL
GOAL SCORING:
1ST PRD: MIN - (PP) BRENT BURNS 14 (BRIAN ROLSTON, JAMES SHEPPARD)
8:54
2ND PRD: COL - (PP) JOE SAKIC 11 (JOHN-MICHAEL LILES, PAUL STASTNY)
4:51
MIN - BRANKO RADIVOJEVIC 5 (BRENT BURNS, MIKKO KOIVU) 9:42
3RD PRD
Mar 17 9:33 PM - NHL
COLORADO 1
MINNESOTA 3
OT: MIN - (EN) STEPHANE VEILLEUX 10 (UNASSISTED) 19:53
Avalanche 1, Wild 3 End of OTMar 17 9:31 PM - NHL
END OF THE 3RD 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
COLORADO 0 1 0 1
MINNESOTA 1 1 0 2 END OF THE 3RD
GOAL SCORING:
1ST PRD: MIN - (PP) BRENT BURNS 14 (BRIAN ROLSTON, JAMES SHEPPARD)
8:54
2ND PRD: COL - (PP) JOE SAKIC 11 (JOHN-MICHAEL LILES, PAUL STASTNY)
4:51
MIN - BRANKO RADIVOJEVIC 5 (BRENT BURNS, MIKKO KOIVU) 9:42
3RD PRD
Mar 17 9:29 PM - NHL
END OF THE 2ND 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
COLORADO 0 1 1
MINNESOTA 1 1 2 END OF THE 2ND
GOAL SCORING:
1ST PRD: MIN - (PP) BRENT BURNS 14 (BRIAN ROLSTON, JAMES SHEPPARD)
8:54
2ND PRD: COL - (PP) JOE SAKIC 11 (JOHN-MICHAEL LILES, PAUL STASTNY)
4:51
MIN - BRANKO RADIVOJEVIC 5 (BRENT BURNS, MIKKO KOIVU) 9:42
SHOTS O
Mar 17 8:39 PM - NHL
COLORADO 1
MINNESOTA 2
2ND PRD: MIN - BRANKO RADIVOJEVIC 5 (BRENT BURNS, MIKKO KOIVU) 9:42
Avalanche 1, Wild 2 2nd - 10:18Mar 17 8:19 PM - NHL
COLORADO 1
MINNESOTA 1
2ND PRD: COL - (PP) JOE SAKIC 11 (JOHN-MICHAEL LILES, PAUL STASTNY)
4:51
Avalanche 1, Wild 1 2nd - 15:09Mar 17 8:09 PM - NHL
END OF THE 1ST 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
COLORADO 0 0
MINNESOTA 1 1 END OF THE 1ST
GOAL SCORING:
1ST PRD: MIN - (PP) BRENT BURNS 14 (BRIAN ROLSTON, JAMES SHEPPARD)
8:54
SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
COL 8 8
MIN 14 14
GOALIES: COL - JOSE THEO
Mar 17 7:44 PM - NHL
COLORADO 0
MINNESOTA 1
1ST PRD: MIN - (PP) BRENT BURNS 14 (BRIAN ROLSTON, JAMES SHEPPARD)
8:54
Avalanche 0, Wild 1 1st - 11:06Mar 17 7:25 PM
Related News
- Avalanche Prospects Mailbag: Panning for Gold Dec 26
- Recap: Avalanche dominate in much-needed get-right game against Arizona Dec 23
- Open Thread: Colorado Avalanche vs. Arizona Coyotes (7:00 p.m.) Dec 23
- Preview: Avalanche square off against Coyotes Dec 23
- Weekly Grades: MacKinnon Nichushkin Domination Edition Dec 22
- Recap: Nathan MacKinnon career night strikes down Sens Dec 22
- Open Thread: Colorado Avalanche vs. Ottawa Senators (7 p.m.) Dec 21
- Preview: A fight through the darkness Dec 21
- Why Devon Toews’ comments will fuel the Avalanche Dec 20
- Recap: Avs get Mrazek’d in Chicago Dec 20
- Open Thread: Colorado Avalanche vs. Chicago Blackhawks (6:30 p.m.) Dec 19
- Preview: Avalanche in the Windy City Dec 19