Minnesota Wild @ Colorado Avalanche: Game Recap

Minnesota Wild 3 - 2 Colorado Avalanche

For Colorado perspective, please visit Mile High Hockey.

Well... road losing streak broken. A goal from the blue line. Offensive zone pressure. Outshooting the opponent. You have to bet Chuck Fletcher will hear from Brendan Shanahan about this. Clearly a suspension is due for those rule violations.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the Wild have won two games. In a row. And the second one came on the road. The only explanation is that the Mayans are right, and we're only here for a few more months. The Wild played a pretty decent game, save for maybe the first five minutes or so. It looked ugly for a few minutes to start this one, but they pulled it together and pulled out the big win and back into eighth in West.

The Avs scored early, but the Wild didn't drop into a coma. Justin Falk scored his first goal of his career to tie it up. Later, Dany Heatley drove home a Kyle Brodziak shot, and the Wild had a lead again. It was odd. If I had not seen it with my own eyes, I would never have believed it.

Then... nap time. Just the mere mention of Chuck Kobasew's name makes me tired. Still, Kobasew did drive the net and score a goal. Something that was so rare in his time in Minnesota, we are left to wonder if he really scored the one tonight.

The final goal was a thing of beauty. Carson McMillian strips the puck, and he and Kyle Brodziak go in on the 2 - on - 0 break with McMillan potting the game winner. Not often you see absolutely no one back for a team with two of the opposition coming the other way. Especially without Todd Richards behind the bench.

This game was not nearly as chippy as it should have been. Being a win, it wasn't nearly as boring as it should have been either. And with Adrian Dater off for the night, it was almost tolerable.

Good times, Wild fans. Time for the All-Star break, with the Wild back in the playoff bubble.

The Bennett's Chop & Railhouse Stars of the Game:

1. Carson McMillan (GWG, 4 SOG)
2. Justin Falk (1G, 3 SOG, 5 PIM)
3. Dany Heatley (1G, 3 SOG)

Remember, when you begin and end your night at Bennett's, you're the star! Easy parking, drink and food specials and a free shuttle to and from the Xcel Energy Center. Check them out at http://bennettschopandrailhouse.com/.

Five Questions:

1. Over under of how long it takes Kassian to seek retribution is set at 5 minutes. What you got? Way over. No fights. Strange.
   
2. Can Wild fans stay awake with the most exciting team in hockey hosting the Wild? It wasn't exactly a barn burner, but it was decent.
3. Who steps up in this one? Everyone played well. We'll say... McMillan.
   
4. Can the Wild overtake the Avs into the break? Yep.
   
5. How many times does Adrian Dater make himself look stupid tonight? He was off tonight. Still found a way to make himself look stupid, though. Still unsure how a guy who is so biased continues to be called a beat writer.