• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Avalanche look to even series after consecutive OT losses

Apr 15, 2008 - 1:32 PM Minnesota at Colorado 10:00 pm EDT Western Conference quarterfinals Wild lead, 2-1

DENVER (Ticker) - The Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Wild have not been able to solve much during regulation.

After three straight overtime finishes, the Avalanche will look to even the series at two wins apiece when they host the Wild in Game Four of their Western Conference quarterfinal matchup on Tuesday.

Minnesota used the extra session Monday to take two-games-to-one lead in the best-of-seven series. Pierre-Marc Bouchard scored 11:58 into overtime to propel the third-seeded Wild to a 3-2 triumph over the sixth-seeded Avalanche.

It was the fourth time in NHL history that the first three games of a playoff series have gone to overtime. The Los Angeles Kings and Edmonton Oilers last accomplished the feat in 1991.

Brian Rolston, who had a shorthanded tally, created the game-winning goal with his hustle. Minnesota cleared the puck down the ice as Rolston and Colorado defenseman Jeff Finger gave chase.

Rolston chose the shortest path to the puck and made a quick pass to Bouchard in the slot. Bouchard fired the puck past Avalanche goaltender Jose Theodore and under the crossbar for the game-winner.

"It was an icing call," Theodore said of the play leading up to the deciding goal. "I guess it took a weird bounce and our defenseman went the wrong way, so they were able to get on the attack right away with a couple of guys. It was more of a bad bounce than anything. You have to turn the page and bounce back."

Mikko Koivu scored his third goal of the series and Niklas Backstrom made 44 saves for Minnesota.

"You need four wins, (but) every win is big," Backstrom said. "But we have to get ready for the next game. It comes fast, it's tomorrow. So enjoy now for a while and start to prepare for tomorrow."

"Both teams have to do it," Brunette said of playing back-to-back nights. "If you can't get up for a playoff game, you shouldn't be playing hockey."