Avalanche Crush Wild 9‑6 in Game 1 Semifinal
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- Colorado Avalanche posted a 9‑6 win over the Minnesota Wild in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinal, marking the highest‑scoring playoff game since 1993 with 14 different goal scorers.
- John Hynes acknowledged the “helter‑skelter” nature of the loss, saying the team will review the score and take lessons before Game 2.
- Cale Makar scored twice in the third period, fueling a four‑goal burst that turned a 5‑4 Wild lead into a 9‑6 Avalanche victory.
- Marcus Foligno noted the offense was fine but the defense needed cleaning up after the Wild gave up nine goals, matching the most they allowed against Dallas.
- Jacob Wallstedt highlighted the Avalanche’s relentless traffic and high‑quality chances, contrasting with the Dallas Stars who “didn’t shoot a lot off the rush.”
Why it matters: Colorado’s 9‑6 victory propels the Avalanche deeper into the playoffs, increasing their home‑game revenue and fan engagement, while the Wild must overhaul their defense, risking lower attendance and a tougher path to the conference final.
