Cale Makar Shines with Two Goals as Avalanche Edge Wild 9-6 in Wild Game 1

Cale Makar made a triumphant return from injury, scoring twice in the third period to help the Colorado Avalanche outlast the Minnesota Wild 9-6 in a thrilling Game 1 of their second-round playoff series. The Avalanche, who had built a commanding three-goal lead, found themselves in a shootout that featured a remarkable 15 combined goals from both teams.

Makar, who had briefly exited the game with an undisclosed injury in the first period, sealed his performance with a crucial goal at 2:54 left in the third, pushing the score to 8-6. Nathan MacKinnon capped off the night with an empty-net goal just 2:08 later, ensuring the Avalanche’s victory.

This matchup marked only the 10th playoff game in history to see at least 15 goals scored, a feat not seen since 1994. Both teams showcased their offensive prowess, with five goals being netted in each period, a surprising turn for two squads known for their defensive skills and elite goaltending.

Remarkably, 14 different players contributed to the scoring, tying it for the second-most in a playoff game. The Avalanche improved their record to 72-1 when leading a playoff game by three or more goals since relocating to Colorado in 1995-96, with their only loss in that situation occurring during a season in which they ultimately won the Stanley Cup.

The game started with a bang as the well-rested Avalanche raced to a 3-0 lead just 6:47 into the first period. However, the Wild fought back and even took a 5-4 lead late in the second period, thanks to a short-handed goal from Marcus Foligno. Devon Toews managed to tie the game at five before heading into the final period, making it just the fourth Game 1 in playoff history where both teams scored five or more goals through the first two periods.

While both goalies faced challenges, they made several key saves throughout the game. Scott Wedgewood, who boasted the league’s best goals-against average this season, allowed more goals in this game than he had in the entire first-round sweep of the Los Angeles Kings. He recorded 30 saves, while Jesper Wallstedt stopped 34 shots in a high-pressure environment.

Makar’s return was closely watched after he took a hard hit from Foligno early in the first period, causing his right leg to fly into the air before he hit the ice. After testing his skating ability with some twirls at the end of the first, Makar returned for the second period, contributing an assist on Nick Blankenburg’s goal to further aid his team.

With the series now underway, the Avalanche will look to build on this momentum in Game 2, scheduled for Tuesday night in Denver.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.