05/03/26 11:07:00
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05/03 23:05 CDT Cale Makar returns from injury, scores twice as Avalanche
outlast Wild 9-6 in wacky Game 1
Cale Makar returns from injury, scores twice as Avalanche outlast Wild 9-6 in
wacky Game 1
By PAT GRAHAM
AP Sports Writer
DENVER (AP) --- Cale Makar scored twice in the third period after returning
from an earlier injury and the Colorado Avalanche overcame blowing a three-goal
lead to beat the Minnesota Wild 9-6 on Sunday night in a wacky Game 1 of their
second-round playoff series.
Makar, who left in the first period with an undisclosed ailment, scored his
second goal of the game with 2:54 remaining to make it 8-6. Nathan MacKinnon
added an empty-net goal with 2:08 remaining to seal it.
This was the 10th playoff game ever with at least 15 combined goals and just
the second since 1994. There were five goals in each period.
Who figured this? A high-scoring affair between two of the better defensive
teams in the league with two elite goaltenders. There were 14 different players
who notched a goal in a game that turned into a track meet. It's tied for the
second-most in a playoff game.
The Avalanche improved to 72-1 since moving to Colorado in 1995-96 when leading
a playoff game by three or more goals. The lone loss was Game 5 against St.
Louis in a season they went on to win the Stanley Cup.
A well-rested Colorado team led 3-0 just 6:47 into the game. But the Wild
steadily climbed back and took a 5-4 lead on a short-handed goal from Marcus
Foligno late in the second.
Devon Toews tied at 5-apiece in the second period. It was just the fourth Game
1 in playoff history with both teams scoring five or more goals through two
periods.
Both goalies struggled, but made some timely saves, too. Scott Wedgewood, who
had the league's best goals-against average this season, allowed one more goal
than he did in the entire sweep of the Los Angeles Kings in Round 1.
He made 30 saves while Jesper Wallstedt stopped 34 shots.
Game 2 is Tuesday night in Denver.
Makar took a scary hit along the boards from Foligno early in the first period.
The Avalanche defenseman's right leg flew into the air before falling to the
ice. Makar tested out his skating with some twirls at the end of the first and
returned for the second. He had an assist on Nick Blankenburg's goal.
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AP Sports Writer Josh Dubow contributed.
___
AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and
https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
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