Colorado Avalanche top Minnesota Wild in high-scoring opener

Denver — Kale Makar Returned from an earlier injury and scored twice in the third period Colorado snow Blowing a three-goal lead overcame Minnesota Wild 9-6 Sunday night in a strange Game 1 of their second-round playoff series.

Makar, who sat out the first period with an undisclosed illness, scored his second goal of the game to make it 8-6 with 2:54 left. Nathan McKinnon It added an empty-net goal with 2:08 left to seal it.

It was the 10th playoff game with at least 15 combined goals and just the second since 1994. There were five goals in each period.

Who embodies this? A high-scoring affair between two of the league’s best defensive teams with two elite goaltenders. Fourteen different players scored a goal — tied for second-most in a playoff game.

The Avalanche are 72-1 after leading by three or more goals in a playoff game since moving to Colorado in 1995-96. The Avalanche’s only loss of the Stanley Cup winning season was in Game 5 against St. Louis.

A well-rested Colorado team took a 3-0 lead just 6:47 into the game. But the Wild kept clawing back and took a 5-4 lead on a short-handed goal Marcus Foligno The second is late.

Devon Toews The second period was tied at 5-5. It was just the fourth Game 1 in playoff history in which both teams scored five or more goals in two periods.

Both goalkeepers struggled, but also made some timely saves. Scott WedgwoodThe league’s best goals-against average this season allowed one more goal than he did during the sweep of the Avs. Los Angeles Kings In round 1.

He made 30 saves, and Jesper Walstead Stopped 34 shots.

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 his skating with some spin at the end of the first and returned for the second. He had an assist Nick BlankenbergIts aim is

Game 2 is Tuesday night in Denver.