Colton’s Two-Goal Performance Helps Avalanche Defeat Wild 5-2

The Minnesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche faced each other for the third time on Friday evening, Feb. 28. The Wild’s roster changed slightly from the night prior when they dropped a 6-1 loss to the Utah Hockey Club on Thursday, Feb. 27. They lost Zach Bogosian to a lower-body injury that has him listed as day-to-day, and Jon Merrill took his roster spot. They were still without Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek. 

The Avalanche had Valeri Nichushkin back. He returned to their lineup earlier in the week after being out two months due to an injury, but they were without Josh Manson. The goaltending battle was between Filip Gustavsson for the Wild and Mackenzie Blackwood for the Avalanche. The Wild got the quick start in the first, but the Avalanche fought back and tied the game and took the win, 5-2. This moved the Wild to 34-22-4 and the Avalanche to 35-24-2. 

Game Recap

The Wild got on the board first as Mats Zuccarello scored his first goal since Jan. 25 against the Calgary Flames. His goal gave his team the 1-0 lead, and Marcus Johansson assisted him. The Avalanche answered back with a power play goal by Nichushkin to tie things up. Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas assisted him. The Wild responded with their own power-play goal, which Vinnie Hinostroza tipped. Brock Faber and Marco Rossi assisted him to retake the lead 2-1. The Wild protected the lead and took it into the second period. 

The Avalanche came alive in the second period and scored not once but three straight to go from behind to the lead. Jonathan Drouin recorded the first goal of the period, and Oliver Kylington assisted him to make it 2-2. Jack Drury tallied the second goal of the period with the help of Cale Makar and Ross Colton to take their first lead, 3-2. Colton scored the third and final goal of the period, and he was assisted by Kylington and Joel Kiviranta. 

The Avalanche took the two-goal lead into the third period, and it remained the exact score until the final minute. Colton recorded his second goal of the game as he scored an empty-netter and gave his team the 5-2 win. Devon Toews and Blackwood assisted him. 

The Wild will head back home for a quick one-game stint against the Boston Bruins on Sunday afternoon, Mar. 2. The Avalanche will remain at home to host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday, Mar. 4.