Wild make it a series against the Avalanche, who have a Game 4 goalie decision to make
During an unusually long break in the second round after Colorado took a 2-0 series lead on Minnesota, Kirill Kaprizov could not help but to think about hockey. What was on his mind? “How you want to beat these guys next game," Kaprizov said.
Kaprizov and the Wild did exactly that, cutting their deficit to 2-1 by jumping out to a two-goal lead and defeating the Avalanche 5-1 on Saturday night. It was much closer to how Minnesota has looked in recent weeks and months. “We’re right back in it,” said goaltender Jesper Wallstedt, who made 35 saves in his return to the net.
“We proved to everyone and ourself that, when we play the right way, when we play the game style we want to play, we’re just as good as anyone else. ” Now it is up to Colorado to bounce back after the NHL's best team in the regular season lost for the first time this playoffs following a first-round sweep of Los Angeles and a 7-0 start. Game 4 is Monday night in St.
Paul (8 p. m. EDT, ESPN).
“You’re looking at the two teams, very evenly matched, and you knew you were going to be in for a series: You knew this was going to be the toughest one yet that we’ve played in the playoffs because of the team we’re playing, the venue, having a 2-0 series lead,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. “Now we’re in a 2-1 series and it’s going to be up to us to respond the next game. It’s really that simple.