A team built on youth depended on one of their old men of the line to help claw their way back into their playoff series with the Colorado Avalanche.
Minnesota's Keith Carney scored just twelve seconds into overtime to give the Wild a 3-2 victory on Friday night and a tie in their series which now moves on to Denver for games three and four.
Minnesota which has suffered a number of key injuries at a most inopportune time, battled back from a one goal deficit early in the game, only to watch the Avalanche refuse to go away as they scored the tying goal late in the third with but 43 seconds to play, a goal that temporarily put the waving towels in a holding pattern as the Wild fans tried to decide if doom was approaching or just a temproary pause in the celebrations.
As the game turned out the celebration would wash across the Excel centre as relieve Wild fans cheered on the victory and the promise of a game five back in Minnesota.
Minnesota found that the front of the Avalanche net was a no go zone as the Colorado end of the rink became a rough and tumble bit of territory, with many a Wild player pushed away from Jose Theodores comfort zone.
The Wild did have their chances to put some distance betweent themselves and the Avs however, but goal posts and crossbars proved to handy items for Theodore as Wild shots bounced off the frame of the net, deflecting away from danger and leaving the Avs with a number of chances to try and solve Niklas Backsrom in the Wild end.
Bakstrom once again kept the high profile Avalanche line up at bay for most of the game turning aside 24 of the 26 shots directed his way, with only Peter Forsberg and Milan Hejduk able to score at almost opposite ends of the game.
The Minnesota victory reassured their faithful fans that the promise of an extended stay in the playoff race is still a possibility, though that may change by the time they return from their Colorado adventure.
Denver Post-- Wild ties series in OT
Denver Post-- Working overtime common theme
Rocky Mountain News-- Minnesota's goal in OT ties series with Avs
Minneapolis Star Tribune-- Carney's 2nd goal of year wins it for Wild in OT
Minneapolis Star Tribune-- Puck finds Carney for game-winner
Minneapolis Star Tribune-- Veteran Avalanche not rattled by OT loss
Associated Press-- Carney Wins It in Overtime for Wild
CBC Sports-- Wild prevail over Avalanche in overtime
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NHL.com-- Stats pack
Minnesota's Keith Carney scored just twelve seconds into overtime to give the Wild a 3-2 victory on Friday night and a tie in their series which now moves on to Denver for games three and four.
Minnesota which has suffered a number of key injuries at a most inopportune time, battled back from a one goal deficit early in the game, only to watch the Avalanche refuse to go away as they scored the tying goal late in the third with but 43 seconds to play, a goal that temporarily put the waving towels in a holding pattern as the Wild fans tried to decide if doom was approaching or just a temproary pause in the celebrations.
As the game turned out the celebration would wash across the Excel centre as relieve Wild fans cheered on the victory and the promise of a game five back in Minnesota.
Minnesota found that the front of the Avalanche net was a no go zone as the Colorado end of the rink became a rough and tumble bit of territory, with many a Wild player pushed away from Jose Theodores comfort zone.
The Wild did have their chances to put some distance betweent themselves and the Avs however, but goal posts and crossbars proved to handy items for Theodore as Wild shots bounced off the frame of the net, deflecting away from danger and leaving the Avs with a number of chances to try and solve Niklas Backsrom in the Wild end.
Bakstrom once again kept the high profile Avalanche line up at bay for most of the game turning aside 24 of the 26 shots directed his way, with only Peter Forsberg and Milan Hejduk able to score at almost opposite ends of the game.
The Minnesota victory reassured their faithful fans that the promise of an extended stay in the playoff race is still a possibility, though that may change by the time they return from their Colorado adventure.
Denver Post-- Wild ties series in OT
Denver Post-- Working overtime common theme
Rocky Mountain News-- Minnesota's goal in OT ties series with Avs
Minneapolis Star Tribune-- Carney's 2nd goal of year wins it for Wild in OT
Minneapolis Star Tribune-- Puck finds Carney for game-winner
Minneapolis Star Tribune-- Veteran Avalanche not rattled by OT loss
Associated Press-- Carney Wins It in Overtime for Wild
CBC Sports-- Wild prevail over Avalanche in overtime
.
NHL.com-- Stats pack
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