Colorado Avalanche return to winning ways with 2-0 shutout of Minnesota Wild - NHL Update
Colorado Avalanche got back to winning ways on Sunday, March 4, 2012 with a well deserved 2-0 victory over the Minnesota Wild at the Xcel Energy Center.
The Avalanche whose recent struggles at home ice have kept them out of the playoff spots put in a wonderful shift on the road to beat a struggling Minnesota Wild team.
The win puts Colorado in 10th in the Western Conference with 72 points just a single point behind eighth spot and the final playoff spot currently occupied by San Jose Sharks.
Forward Jamie McGinn who scored both goals in the game told media afterwards that the two points were highly important after two straight defeats.
"This is huge. After dropping two we knew we needed these two points. Everyone ahead of us is winning right now, so we have to stay in the hunt. It's going to be an interesting final stretch here, and we want to be a part of it too."
It was a fourth straight defeat for Minnesota Wild and their poor form has knocked them right out of the chase for a playoff spot.
Minnesota are now 13th in the Western Conference with just 66 points.
Even though Wild goaltender Matt Hackett made 34 saves during the game he could not keep out McGinn in the first period and with Minnesota’s offence shutout by Colorado goaltender Semyon Varlamov the game was put out of their hands.
Coach Mike Yeo said after the game.
"I have to find a way to make sure we're ready to go at the drop of the puck the next game. I think it's more between the ears than it is the ability of a player,"
Avalanche coach Joe Sacco was highly pleased on the other hand and praised McGinn.
"As a coach you have to take those kinds of things into consideration and remember it's a whole new environment for him,"
Colorado took the lead in the first period in the very first minute of the game as McGinn controlled the puck from Peter Mueller at 1:42 to make it 1-0.
Just seven minutes later McGinn once again got on the score sheet this time on the power play to score the goal that turned out to be the winner with another assist from Mueller.
The Wild tried to counter attack in the final two periods peppering Varlamov’s goal but the goaltender stood strong saving all 30 shots to shutout Minnesota and send them to a fourth straight loss.
The Avalanche will now look to build on this win on Tuesday when they face Minnesota at home.
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