“The Beautiful People, the beautiful people, its all relative to the size of your steeple, you can’t see the forest for the trees, you can’t smell your own shit on your knees,” are the lyrics to Marilyn Manson‘s song The Beautiful People. I would say I kind of feel like its appropriate when describing the Colorado Avalanche. The beautiful people that is earning all kinds of praise from columnists like ESPN‘s Pierre LeBrun, and TSN‘s Bob McKenzie to TV commentators like NHL Network‘s Kevin Weekes and NBC Sports‘ Keith Jones, quite frankly I’m getting a little sick of it. They like Colorado because they’re young, fast and has tremendous potential but why must that mean the accomplishments of their opponent are so easily dismissed and overlooked? Now its time to bring this Colorado praise train to its collective knees; from 6’6″ human rooster Adrian Dater on down if for nothing other than to have the youngsters to actually earn their kudos instead of being the ‘beautiful’ media darlings they’ve always been treated as. The NHL may be rooting for the Avalanche to win; since its tried just about all its could to promote their success while ignoring its struggles but no one wanted to promote the low scoring, defensively responsible Minnesota squad back in 2003 either. All everyone knew the Wild as was the team that employs the neutral-zone trap as preached by its guru Jacques Lemaire and its been a signature of the organization ever since. Yet is that really true anymore?
Are the Wild simply playing the trap and low scoring because it demands such a defensive commitment from its forwards? Not really. In the playoffs, the Wild are outshooting the high-flying ‘beautiful’ Avalanche on an average of 33 to 25. In 2003, the Wild beat another ‘high-flying’ offensive powerhouse from Colorado and the only question is; can they do it again?
1st Period Thoughts: Minnesota would get itself into trouble right away as Nino Niederreiter was given a hooking penalty for getting his stick on the side of Erik Johnson. It was a dumb penalty to take as Niederreiter wasn’t in a good position to get the puck. Minnesota’s penalty kill started out pretty well, as they tried to work a back door play to Nick Holden who was stopped by Darcy Kuemper. The Avalanche would get one Wild defender a little out of position and they’d immediately work the puck down low before Matt Duchene hammered as shot on goal that would bounce out of the area near the crease where Jamie McGinn whiffed on it as he barreled into Kuemper moving him out of the way so Holden to tap it home. The goal was waived off, then the official changed his mind and counted it. It was reviewed; which clearly demonstrated that McGinn was not pushed into Kuemper but shoved him out of the way so he was unable to make the save but they counted it anyway. Unreal. With the home crowd roaring, the Wild tried to rally back. They would get a little help with a phantom hooking call to Nate Guenin. Unfortunately, the Wild did absolutely nothing on the man advantage. Minnesota kept passing and the Avalanche were fine with the Wild just wasting their time and the Wild almost allowed Colorado to build more momentum for themselves. The Wild would send in its 2nd line of Mikko Koivu, Charlie Coyle and Matt Moulson and they’d work it deep in the Colorado zone, as Koivu set up Moulson for a one-timer that was steered aside by Semyon Varlamov, but Coyle would pick up the puck and outmuscle an Avalanche defender for the puck and he’d feed it out to Koivu who snapped a shot high glove by Varlamov to tie the game at 1-1. Minnesota would rather quietly take control of the pace of play as they continued to apply pressure; as Niederreiter would make a quick little move at the blueline and then made a slick toe drag move before firing a wrist shot that was held onto by Varlamov. The Wild kept attacking as Jason Pominville pulled the trigger on a quick shot as Varlamov knocked it down and covered it up. The Avalanche would counter attack, taking advantage of a Wild line change to get an odd-man rush and McGinn would close in on Nate Prosser as he flung a wrist shot that fluttered by a surprised Kuemper. 2-1 Avalanche. The Wild would try to respond with its top line of Mikael Granlund, Pominville, Zach Parise line as Granlund set up Parise in the slot and he’d turn and fire a shot that was directed aside by Varlamov. The physical play started to intensify towards the last few minutes of the period as both clubs were finishing their checks with authority. One player feeling the physical intensity was Ryan Suter who was getting hit early and often as he got leveled by a stiff check by Gabriel Landeskog. Colorado would carry their 2-1 lead going into the first intermission even though Minnesota outshot the Avalanche 12 to 9. The Wild need to work puck deep and funnel as many shots on goal as they can.
2nd Period Thoughts: The Avalanche would attack right away, and a diagonal shot by Johnson was tapped home by Duchene who cross-checked Jonas Brodin to get the puck. The home fans boo’d the call as they felt Brodin took a dive. Minnesota would go on the power play but it was an effort to forget. Sloppy passing made for easy turnovers and the the power play never really materialized as it was spent chasing down pucks in their own end. Duchene would run into Kuemper behind the Wild goal as he fell akwardly to the ice. No call, but as Minnesota counter attacked the official blew the whistle negating a potential Wild rush. Kuemper looked a bit woozy on his skates as Ryan Suter skated over to check on him and after doing a few laps and taking a few swigs from his water bottle he’d stay between the pipes. The Wild would regroup and apply more pressure against Colorado that drew a high sticking call on Joey Hishon. Minnesota’s power play used a simpler approach the the result was far better offensive pressure; as they put a few nice shots on Varlamov early. Minnesota moved the puck well, but still was guilty of holding onto it a little too long but their persistence would be rewarded as Mikael Granlund would hammer a slap shot on goal that was stopped by Varlamov but Dany Heatley was there to swing home the rebound to tie the game at 2-2. With the home crowd stunned by Heatley’s goal the Avalanche would try to go back on the attack. Nathan MacKinnon would skate into the Wild zone and he’d let go of a shot from the slot that was denied by Kuemper before diving for a puck which would draw a hooking call on Koivu. On the penalty kill, Minnesota kept it simple by doing what they could to challenge Colorado’s point men so they couldn’t have a free shot on goal. Minnesota was able to disrupt a few passes and get Colorado to chase the puck out of their zone. The Wild would get the big kill, but positive momentum was elusive as they’d go back on the penalty kill again as Stephane Veilleux was tagged with a hook on Ryan Wilson. Minnesota’s penalty kill again was pushed to the limit as Colorado moved the puck quickly as they tried to create a void they could exploit but the Wild were hustling well and getting in front of shots and paying the price to block them. After Granlund had the stick slashed from his hand by Gabriel Landeskog to no call it looked as though the Avalanche were able to have the void it was working for but Minnesota still contested Johnson’s point shot as it was blocked out front and then skated and cleared by a strong move by Cody McCormick. The Wild would finish out the closing minutes hustling and denying Colorado time and space and they’d skate into the 2nd intermission tied at 2 goals apiece.
3rd Period Thoughts: Colorado controlled the play early as MacKinnon got the puck down low and he’d attempt to wrap the shot on goal as Kuemper held the left post to make the save. Minnesota would then rally back with two odd-man chances for its top line as Granlund and Pominville worked a 2-on-1 where Granlund ripped a snap shot high over the Colorado goal and then moments after that the Wild had a 3-on-2 where Granlund set up Pominville for a quick shot that was pushed wide but the puck was swept up by Granlund who set up Scandella on the backdoor but his shot was held onto by Varlamov. The scoring chances would continue as Colorado would work the puck down low as P.A. Parenteau would use the side of the goal to bank a pass from beneath the goal line out to the high slot that was shot on goal quickly by Paul Stastny that fooled Kuemper and the Avalanche held a 3-2 lead. Not a great goal, but the Wild did not seem demoralized in their body language. Minnesota would rally back as the 4th line would find the back of the net as Kyle Brodziak carried the puck into the Avalanche zone where he dished the puck to Niederreiter who snapped a shot from just above the right faceoff circle that beat Varlamov up high to tie the game at 3-3. The Avalanche seemed a bit stunned by the setback and Minnesota kept working hard as the top line nearly cashed in on a point shot by Spurgeon drew a big rebound and then the puck was backhanded just wide by Parise. Both clubs were backchecking well as they were wary of making a big mistake. Colorado would pull ahead a few minutes later as Jamie McGinn would win a battle for the puck along the wall and pass it out to the point where Erik Johnson got off a wrist shot that would beat an overly aggressive Kuemper to make it 4-3. It was another not so great goal given up by the Wild goaltender, which resulted from a lost battle for the puck. The goal seemed to confirm that Kuemper was not 100% and Wild assistant athletic trainer Don Fuller would escort him off the ice and Ilya Bryzgalov would come on in relief with the club trailing by one. Minnesota would start to show an aire of desperation as they tried to net the equalizer. Minnesota was taking just about every opportunity to send the puck on goal as Colorado was happy to lay rope-a-dope and send the puck off the glass and out of the zone as often as they could. But the Wild would not go away as Minnesota kept taking their chances as Niederreiter would win a battle for the puck down low against Jan Hejda and he’d pass it out to Jared Spurgeon who waited for a sliding MacKinnon to clear as his wrist shot rang off the left post and in to tie the game at 4-4. The Wild tried to take advantage of Colorado’s astonishment after Spurgeon’s goal but was just unable to get a good stick on it as the top line of Koivu, Coyle and Parise looking dangerous. The period would expire to an anxious Pepsi Center crowd eerie quietude. Minnesota outshot Colorado 30-21 in regulation and 10-7 in the 3rd alone.
Overtime Thoughts: Minnesota was looking hungry early in overtime as the top line would swarm down low as Parise tried to wrap a shot near the left post as Varlamov made the save but the puck would come sliding out into the slot harmlessly. The Avalanche would try to strike back off the rush as MacKinnon set up Stastny for an open shot that he fired high over the Wild goal, but Minnesota would counter with Mikael Granlund making his way behind the defense but his wrist shot was denied by Varlamov and then he couldn’t cash in on his own wrap around attempt as Johnson dove in to break up the attempt. It was all about the little desperation as the Wild was taking every chance to go on the attack. And the Wild had a 2-on-1 between Brodziak and Niederreiter as the Swiss winger moved in and rifled a shot high glove side that rang off the post and in. The goal would be reviewed, but goal would count and Minnesota would advance to a 5-4 victory.
It was an odd game where Minnesota did not get the greatest performance between the pipes, but it got enough to get the job done. Of course the speculation will soon turn to Kuemper’s health after his odd fall and subsequent removal from the game after giving up the 4th goal. Does that mean the Wild will have to soldier on with Ilya Bryzgalov. Bryzgalov only had to make one save, but he might go down in NHL history as the only goaltender to win a Game 7 to have made just one stop. Defensively, the Wild made some desperate plays late in the game to keep Colorado at bey. Ryan Suter especially came up big down the stretch with some super poised plays to take the puck off the stick of attacking Avalanche forwards. I thought Jared Spurgeon played big for his size, making some strong plays along the wall and then coming up big offensively. Jonas Brodin was a little weak though; he really needs to hit the weights. His lack of strength is really being exposed out there.
Offensively, it was all about stepping up when the team needed it. Just think about the goal scorers this evening. Mikko Koivu; his first goal of the playoffs. Dany Heatley, a scratch down much of the stretch of the season comes up with a huge goal, also his first of the post-season. Then Niederreiter, and then Spurgeon with the game-tying goal with a little over two minutes left; his 2nd of the playoffs. Then of course, Niederreiter’s 2nd goal of the game in wicked fashion as he went high glove on Varlamov. The team had a different hero each night in the victories and this gives the team hope when its had so many contributions from all over its lineup. Hopefully they can use that to their advantage against the Blackhawks.
Minnesota demonstrated phenomenal resilience, becoming the first team in NHL history to win a Game 7 after scoring 4-game tying goals. Its a testament to the character and the heart of a squad who many felt didn’t stand much of a chance after Colorado had dominated the Wild throughout most of the regular season. The Wild overcame a completely garbage goal-call in the 1st period and kept rallying back time after time and I’m sure Colorado wondered if they could finally vanquish Team Rasputin. Whether Kuemper can recover or its Bryzgalov’s show the Wild have earned a spot in the 2nd round against what should be another epic series. It was shades of the 2003 all over the place as a #30 replaced a #35 to deliver in the clutch; as well as a #15 on the ice when Niederreiter buried the game winner. It certainly will be a game that will be long remembered all across the State of Hockey, hats off to the Wild on huge victory! But its not over yet. Now the Wild have to relish it a little, but then regroup and refocus and be ready for another war against Chicago.
Wild Notes:
~ The Wild roster tonight was as follows: Mikael Granlund, Zach Parise, Jason Pominville, Mikko Koivu, Charlie Coyle, Matt Moulson, Erik Haula, Nino Niederreiter, Stephane Veilleux, Cody McCormick, Kyle Brodziak, Ryan Suter, Jared Spurgeon, Jonas Brodin, Marco Scandella, Clayton Stoner and Nate Prosser. Ilya Bryzgalov shared the duties between the pipes with Darcy Kuemper. Mike Rupp, Justin Fontaine, Keith Ballard, Raphael Bussieres, Tyler Graovac, Zack Phillips, Carson McMillan, Jake Dowell, Jon Landry, Steven Kampfer, John Curry and Jonathon Blum were the scratches. Matt Cooke is serving the 4th game of his NHL 7-game suspension.
~ The 3 Stars of the Game were: 1st Star Nino Niederreiter, 2nd Star Jared Spurgeon, 3rd Star P.A. Parenteau
~ Attendance was 18,511 at Pepsi Center.
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