Avalanche Outlast Wild 9-6 In High Scoring Game One/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Cale Makar returned from injury and scored twice for Colorado. The Avalanche defeated the Wild 9-6 in a high-scoring Game 1. The matchup became one of the highest-scoring playoff games ever.
Avalanche Wild Game 1 Quick Looks
- Avalanche defeat Wild 9-6 in Game 1
- Cale Makar scores twice after injury scare
- 15 total goals scored in rare playoff shootout
- Nathan MacKinnon seals win with empty-net goal
- 14 players scored in high-paced matchup
- Series continues with Game 2 in Denver
Makar Returns Strong After Injury Scare
Cale Makar made a dramatic return after briefly leaving the game with an injury, scoring twice to lead the Colorado Avalanche to a wild 9-6 victory over the Minnesota Wild in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series.
Makar exited early after a hard hit but returned in the second period and delivered key plays down the stretch, including a late goal to extend Colorado’s lead.
“Just a weird game,” Makar said. “I don’t think we’re going to see that again. It’s probably a one-off, but glad we were able to stick with it and find a way to win.”
Historic Scoring Explosion
What was expected to be a defensive showdown quickly turned into an offensive spectacle.
The 15 combined goals made it just the 10th playoff game in NHL history to reach that mark — and only the second since 1994. Each period featured five goals, creating a fast-paced, unpredictable contest.
Colorado coach Jared Bednar summed it up: “If you scripted that one, I don’t know how you do. I can’t explain it.”
Avalanche Overcome Blown Lead
The Avalanche jumped out to an early 3-0 lead, appearing in control. However, the Wild fought back, eventually taking a 5-4 lead late in the second period.
Marcus Foligno scored a short-handed goal to give Minnesota the edge, shifting momentum in their favor.
Colorado responded quickly, tying the game before pulling away again in the third period.
MacKinnon and Team Depth Shine
Nathan MacKinnon added an empty-net goal to secure the win, capping off a performance that showcased Colorado’s depth.
In total, 14 different players scored, tying for the second-most goal scorers in a playoff game.
Captain Gabriel Landeskog acknowledged the chaotic nature of the game.
“It’s nice to be able to win games like this,” he said. “Not necessarily a coach’s dream or a player’s dream — we don’t want to give up six goals. It’s good to win this one but we’ve got lots of things to clean up.”
Goaltenders Face Tough Night
Both teams’ goaltenders struggled amid the offensive barrage but still made key saves.
Colorado’s Scott Wedgewood allowed more goals than he had in the entire previous playoff series but still managed 30 saves. Minnesota’s Jesper Wallstedt stopped 34 shots despite the loss.
“He’s great. He’s going to bounce back,” Foligno said of Wallstedt. “He’ll be fine next game. He’s a beast. This wasn’t on him.”
Injuries Impact Wild Lineup
Minnesota played without key contributors, including Joel Eriksson Ek and Jonas Brodin, both of whom are expected to miss Game 2 as well.
Their absence added pressure on the remaining roster in an already high-intensity matchup.
Series Outlook After Wild Opener
Game 1’s unusual scoring pace may not reflect the rest of the series, but it sets an unpredictable tone moving forward.
Game 2 is scheduled for Tuesday night in Denver, where both teams will look to tighten their defense and adjust strategies.
Despite the chaos, Colorado takes an early advantage in what promises to be a tightly contested series.
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