Quick Read
- Marcus Foligno scored a shorthanded goal in the second period, briefly giving the Wild a 5-4 lead.
- The game resulted in a 9-6 loss for the Wild, marking one of the highest-scoring playoff games since 1994.
- Colorado defenseman Cale Makar returned from a first-period injury caused by a Foligno hit to score two decisive goals.
DENVER (Azat TV) – Minnesota Wild forward Marcus Foligno delivered a pivotal shorthanded goal during Sunday’s high-scoring Game 1 of the Western Conference second-round series, though the effort was ultimately overshadowed by a 9-6 loss to the Colorado Avalanche. The goal, which briefly gave the Wild a 5-4 lead late in the second period, served as a flashpoint in what became one of the highest-scoring playoff games in modern NHL history.
Impact of the Shorthanded Goal
The goal occurred deep into the second period as the Wild mounted a massive comeback from a 3-0 deficit. Foligno’s strike against Colorado goaltender Scott Wedgewood capped a momentum shift that saw the Wild erase the early lead established by the Avalanche. Despite the statistical rarity of a shorthanded goal in such a high-stakes environment, the lead proved short-lived as Colorado’s Devon Toews tied the game at 5-5 shortly thereafter.
Physicality and Game Dynamics
The contest was marked by intense physical play, including a notable first-period collision between Foligno and Colorado defenseman Cale Makar. The hit, which occurred along the boards, caused Makar to leave the game briefly with an undisclosed ailment. While Makar returned to record two goals in the third period—including the go-ahead score with less than three minutes remaining—the incident underlined the aggressive nature of the series opener.
High-Scoring Playoff Precedent
According to The Associated Press, Sunday’s game saw 15 combined goals, making it the 10th playoff game in NHL history to reach that threshold and only the second since 1994. Both goaltenders, Wedgewood and Minnesota’s Jesper Wallstedt, faced heavy pressure throughout the match, resulting in a defensive collapse rarely seen between two of the league’s top-performing defensive units. The loss forces the Wild to adjust their strategy ahead of Game 2, scheduled for Tuesday in Denver.
The high-scoring nature of this matchup suggests that both teams are currently prioritizing offensive transition over structural stability, a trend that could force coaching staffs to tighten defensive rotations significantly before the series moves back to Minnesota.