Watch CBS News
The 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs got off to a rocky start for the Minnesota Wild. Game 1 saw Minnesota with a two goal lead going into the third period only to see the Avalanche rally to tie the game and then winning it in overtime by a score of 5-4. In game 2, Minnesota was unable to stop Colorado's transition game in the neutral zone as the Avalanche out-skated the Wild, winning 4-2.
Minnesota Wild left wing Matt Cooke has been summoned for a hearing at the NHL office in New York regarding his kneeing penalty that injured Colorado Avalanche defenseman Tyson Barrie. The league said Cooke's meeting will be Wednesday afternoon. Game 4 is Thursday night, but Cooke likely will be suspended for that one and more.
For three periods, Mikael Granlund and the Minnesota Wild were flinging puck after puck at Semyon Varlamov, who was busy playing the part of impenetrable force. Finally, in overtime, such persistence produced a reward. Granlund's diving goal 5:08 into overtime gave the Wild a 1-0 win over Varlamov and the Colorado Avalanche in Game 3 on Monday night to pull within 2-1 in the best-of-seven series.
The Minnesota Wild took on the Colorado Avalanche at the Xcel Energy Center for Game 3 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs Monday night. The Wild scored in overtime to beat the Avalanche 1 – 0, but fans were cheering long before the game started.
The Minnesota Wild have switched goalies for Game 3 of their playoff series against the Colorado Avalanche, giving Darcy Kuemper the start instead of Ilya Bryzgalov. Coach Mike Yeo confirmed the change after the pre-game morning skate on Monday.
The Minnesota Wild return to home ice for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The team trails the Colorado Avalanche 0-2 in the best-of-seven series.
Nathan MacKinnon and his equally skilled Colorado linemates Gabe Landeskog and Paul Stastny were too fast for Minnesota in the first two games. In losing twice to the Avalanche, the Wild found themselves flat-footed at the wrong times and letting their young, potent opponent dictate the pace and flow.
Teenager Nathan MacKinnon is growing up fast. Almost as fast as he skates. The speedy 18-year-old delivered another stellar performance for the Colorado Avalanche, scoring his first NHL postseason goal and dishing out three assists in a 4-2 win over the Minnesota Wild on Saturday night.
Colorado Avalanche coach Patrick Roy says he doesn't expect leading scorer Matt Duchene to play in the first-round playoff series against Minnesota. Duchene has been out since damaging the MCL in his left knee when he ran into a teammate against San Jose on March 29.
Patrick Roy showed as much boldness behind the bench as he once did as a Hall of Fame goaltender. The first-year Colorado coach made some daring moves late in the game — like pulling his goaltender with 3:01 remaining — and yet the ploy worked out.
The Minnesota Wild are in Denver, getting ready for game one of their best of seven series against Colorado Thursday night.
On April 8, the Minnesota Wild clinched a berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. What was yet to be determined was who their opponent in the first round would be. The thought was the Wild would face either Anaheim or St. Louis, both of whom were leading their respective divisions at the time. When the dust settled on the regular season Sunday, it was the Colorado Avalanche who turned out to be Minnesota's opponent in the first round.
Minnesota Wild center Mikael Granlund likely will return to action for the playoffs, after a hit to the head kept him out for the last six games of the regular season. Coach Mike Yeo said after practice Tuesday that Granlund "looks good and feels good" after missing the last two weeks. The Wild play at Colorado on Thursday in Game 1 of their first-round series.
Craig Smith had two goals and two assists for Nashville, and the Predators finished the season strong with a 7-3 win over the playoff-bound Minnesota Wild on Sunday night. The Wild wrapped up the first wild card spot in the Western Conference earlier in the week and already had their first-round matchup with the Colorado Avalanche set before the game, so there were few motivators other than the maintenance of health and momentum and maybe a statistical milestone or two.
The NHL has suspended Minnesota Wild forward Mike Rupp for four games without pay for Rupp's hit on St. Louis Blues forward T.J. Oshie on Thursday night.
