Despite scoring the game’s first goal, earning two power play tallies for the first time in 2021 and finding a way to get four pucks past Philip Grubauer, the Minnesota Wild fell into a second period hole that they couldn’t climb out of, scoring late goals to make it close but ultimately falling to the West division leading Colorado Avalanche by a score of 5-4. Ryan Hartman led the Wild with a three-point night on a goal and two assists, Nick Bjugstad earned a Gordie Howe hat trick on a goal, an assist, and a fight (lopsided as it was), and Cam Talbot stopped 31 shots.
Avalanche 5, Wild 4: Avs pull away in 2nd, hold on for win
