DENVER (AP) 鈥� The Colorado Avalanche are both , and that unusual combination has the Minnesota Wild to their opponent’s offensive onslaught.
鈥淚t鈥檚 one game at a time,” Wild forward Matt Boldy said after the Tuesday night put Minnesota in a 2-0 hole in this second-round series. “It鈥檚 coming into the next game ready to go. Make our adjustments and be better. You don鈥檛 win a series with two wins. That鈥檚 our mind-set. You go in, we鈥檙e going to make adjustments.鈥�
Not much has worked for the Wild so far as the Avalanche have pummeled , Jesper Wallstedt for eight goals in and Filip Gustavsson for four more in Colorado’s Game 2 dominance.
The Avalanche’s 14 goals are the most in the first two games of a playoff series since the Calgary Flames scored 15 against the Los Angeles Kings in 1988.
Twelve Colorado players have scored so far, an NHL record for the first two games of a series, and 10 Avalanche players have multiple points in the series that resumes Saturday night in St. Paul.
鈥淚t鈥檚 great. I mean, right now, that鈥檚 what you need,鈥� defenseman Cale Makar said. 鈥淵ou need everybody contributing and we鈥檙e finding ways to do that. There鈥檚 a lot of jelling minds right now.鈥�
Colorado coach Jared Bednar was asked if he realized he had this much firepower and depth.
鈥淚 was hoping we did,” Bednar said. “We鈥檙e getting it now, right, and it doesn鈥檛 mean we鈥檙e always going to get the depth scoring. But I think all of our lines and players are capable of producing. Players are going to go through hot streaks, cold streaks, but I also feel like playoff time when everything鈥檚 on the line, that could drag the best out of your group at times, and sometimes it can drag the worst out in your group.
鈥淪o it鈥檚 a consistency thing for me, but it鈥檚 all up in between the ears for me.鈥�
After sweeping the Los Angeles Kings, who slowed things down and turned the high-flying Avs into defensive-minded stalwarts, Colorado has flashed its goal-scoring prowess against the Wild.
Scott Wedgewood set the tone for the rebound after allowing a half dozen goals in Game 1. He made 29 saves Tuesday as he improved to 6-0 in his inaugural playoff run as a starter.
鈥淢eans we鈥檙e winning hockey games,鈥� Wedgewood said. 鈥淚 think, statistically, like I said, if we win 9-6, as long as we win, that鈥檚 all that matters this time of the year. It鈥檚 not always going to be pretty, like the other night, but just keep winning games, putting pucks on our board and go after the main thing.鈥�
Great goaltending. Prolific scoring. Speed. Finesse. Physicality. It’s all working for Colorado.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e a great team,鈥� Boldy said. 鈥淭hey play super-fast, super-dynamic. Obviously they have some incredible players. The biggest thing is just staying above them and not giving them those odd-man rushes because obviously their pretty special players make special plays.鈥�
Especially Avs captain Gabriel Landeskog and forward Nathan MacKinnon.
Landeskog is looking like his old, pre-injury self of 2022 before a right knee injury robbed him of three seasons. He had a goal and and assist in Game 2. MacKinnon scored a goal and assisted on two others Tuesday.
MacKinnon joined some exclusive company with his third straight three-point playoff game. The only players to accomplish that feat over the last 40 years are Mikko Rantanen (2025), Leon Draisaitl (2022), Joe Pavelski (2010), Joe Sakic (1997) and Dennis Maruk (1986), according to NHL Stats.
鈥淛ust excited to play playoff hockey,鈥� said MacKinnon, whose team has scored five or more goals in three straight postseason games for the fifth time in franchise history. 鈥淥bviously, the best time of year.鈥�
Landeskog knows that feeling.
What brings out the best in him this time of year? That’s easy.
鈥淚t’s playoff hockey. It’s what you play for,鈥� Landeskog said. 鈥淚t’s what you think about through the dog days of the season. It’s what you think about when you’re training in the offseason. This is what it comes down to, so I think it’s about just leaving it all out there, really.”
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