The Avalanche’s scheduled loss became a charitable win.
After arriving in St. Paul past 2 a.m. local time Wednesday, the Avs lagged for two periods but emerged with a vital 3-2 win at the Wild. After starting the night tied in the standings, Colorado (29-19-5) returns home two points up on the second wild card spot thanks to Alexandar Georgiev’s 41 saves. This was the second time this season Colorado has been had fewer than 20 shots on goal.
Turning a little into a lot against ghastly goaltending
Longtime great netminder Marc-Andre Fleury was not great against the Avalanche. Not even good.
The first period seemed grim enough, when Colorado led 1-0 despite getting outshot 17-6. But by second intermission, mock cheers were raining down on the home goalie whenever he touched the puck.
At 2:20 of the period, Denis Malgin fluttered a slow-floating puck past Fleury for a peculiar goal and a 2-0 lead. For Malgin, it was a second goal in as many games after failing to score in his first 12 games with the Avalanche. For Fleury, it should have been a save.
Colorado proceeded to spend an eternity in its own zone, going 14:09 without a shot on goal.
But the next one also went in.
It was Nathan MacKinnon this time, creating something out of nothing with his skating speed into Minnesota’s zone. It was another savable shot low, but it trickled through Fleury’s five-hole. He was credited with two saves in the period, which ended with the Wild outshooting the Avalanche 30-10.
As Manson returns, recently injured defensemen don’t hesitate to instigate
Two players the Avalanche might not want to see in the middle of shoving matches (or more) right now: Manson and Bo Byram.
Physicality is part of Manson’s game, so in his case the aggression is no surprise, even immediately after being activated from IR. Still, two other defensemen are injured, so the Avs might feel particularly sensitive about protecting freshly recovered blue-liners.
Playing in his first game since Dec. 1, 2022, Manson took exception to an early collision between Minnesota’s Connor Dewar and Georgiev. Later in the first period, Manson shoved Dewar after a whistle and ended up in the middle of a scrum.
As for a skill player like Byram with a history of concussions, it’s a flinch-worthy occasion any time he drops the gloves. When he checked Matt Boldy in the defensive zone, he was challenged to an unexpected fight that ended with Byram on his back. It was his second career NHL fight and Boldy’s first.
Manson was superb in his return, assisting Malgin’s goal and making several important defensive plays including one to shut down Minnesota during a delayed penalty. He landed a few massive hits, the most impressive of which leveled Dewar in the third period.
Finally, a strong third period
After the Wild were aggressors for 40 minutes, Colorado encountered its recent Achilles heel: protecting a third-period lead in the third period.
Minnesota cut the deficit in half then piled on chances late while playing with desperation, but despite that score, the Avs actually reversed their misfortune by playing their best period of the game, almost doubling their shot total.
Still, in the last 11 games, the Avalanche have been outscored 12-4 in third periods, and only one of their goals was scored with an opposing goaltender in net.
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