Makar’s Return Sparks Avalanche in Wild 9–6 Playoff Shootout

DENVER — What looked like a matchup defined by defense quickly turned into something nobody expected. Cale Makar returned from an early injury scare and scored twice in the third period as the Colorado Avalanche survived a chaotic, high-scoring battle to defeat the Minnesota Wild 9–6 in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series Sunday night. “I don’t think you could draw that one up,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. “There’s no real explanation for a game like that.” After briefly exiting in the first period with an undisclosed injury, Makar came back and made a decisive impact. He broke a 6–6 tie late in the third period with his second goal of the night, putting Colorado ahead for good with under three minutes remaining. Nathan MacKinnon followed with an empty-netter to seal the win. The game was a statistical anomaly. It marked just the 10th playoff game in NHL history with at least 15 combined goals—and only the second such game since 1994. All three periods featured five total goals, and 14 different players found the back of the net, tying for the second-most goal scorers ever in a playoff game. “Just a weird one,” Makar said. “You probably won’t see that again. But we stayed with it and found a way.” Colorado initially looked in control, jumping out to a 3–0 lead late in the first period. But Minnesota clawed back, eventually taking a 5–4 lead on a short-handed goal by Marcus Foligno late in the second. The Avalanche responded quickly. Devon Toews tied the game before the second intermission, setting up a wide-open third period that ultimately tipped in Colorado’s favor. “It’s not exactly how you want to win,” Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog said. “Giving up six goals isn’t ideal, but we’ll take it. There’s a lot to clean up.” Despite the offensive explosion, both teams entered the series known for strong defensive play and reliable goaltending. That reputation didn’t show much in Game 1, as both netminders faced relentless pressure. Colorado’s Scott Wedgewood finished with 30 saves, while Minnesota’s Jesper Wallstedt stopped 34 shots in a difficult outing for both. “He’ll bounce back,” Foligno said of Wallstedt. “He’s been great for us. This wasn’t just on him.”

The win continued a long-standing trend for Colorado. Since relocating in 1995–96, the franchise is now 72–1 in playoff games when holding a lead of three or more goals. Their only loss in that situation came during a postseason run that still ended in a Stanley Cup title.

Minnesota was also shorthanded, missing forward Joel Eriksson Ek and defenseman Jonas Brodin, both of whom will remain out for Game 2. Makar’s return stood out as one of the night’s pivotal moments. After taking an awkward hit along the boards from Foligno in the first period, he left the ice briefly before testing his mobility and rejoining the game in the second. “It’s never fun when something feels off,” Makar said. “But I just wanted to make sure I was good and get back out there.” Game 2 is set for Tuesday night in Denver, where both teams will look to regain some defensive structure after one of the most unpredictable playoff openers in recent memory.