Devin Setoguchi scores game-winner in final moments as Minnesota Wild shutout Colorado Avalanche 1-0
Having acquired Devin Setoguchi from the San Jose Sharks is really paying off for the Minnesota Wild who secured the second number spot in the Western Conference with third straight win over the Colorado Avalanche in a, 1-0, shutout, on Thursday night, November
17, 2011, at the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States.
After two scoreless first two periods, including failing to capitalise on a power play opportunity, both the Wild and Avalanche were entering into an intense competition in the third and final period of regulation.
Surprisingly, the second period remained slow and without any penalties involved, both teams had a tough time getting the added man advantage on either.
Clayton Stoner was sent to the benches for hooking early in the third period which put pressure on the home that went down a player, but luckily they managed to kill it.
As tensions built up, Justin Falk exchanged fists with Colorado’s, David Jones, and both were awarded a five-minute penalty for fighting.
As the final three minutes of game time in the final period approached, the home crowd of more than 16,500 were preparing to head into an overtime extension but out of the blue, Devin Setoguchi made a miraculous goal at the 17:29 mark for the game-winner.
"I think we knew coming in that it was not going to be a perfect game on our part," said Wild coach Mike Yeo. "We haven't had quality practice time, the amount of travel time we've had, that first game home is always difficult. You could see, execution-wise,
that we were having trouble out there. But as I said yesterday, we have a team full of fighters."
After winning the match, Setoguchi was surprised that his shot actually went in when asked by reporters.
"I don't think I even had a shot on net until that point," Setoguchi said. "It was a play where [Heatley] just shot the puck, it landed on your stick and sometimes that's all it takes."
Minnesota Wild will continue their six-game home stand against the St. Louis Blues on Saturday while the Colorado Avalanche also have the next six at home, starting off with the Dallas Stars on Friday.
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