(3) Colorado Avalanche vs. (6) Minnesota Wild
The series opened at Pepsi Center in Denver, but the Wild won a close-fought game one, 4?2. Game two was closer, but the Avalanche tied the series, 1?1, with a much-needed 3?2 victory. The series then shifted venue to the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul for game three, and Avalanche goaltender Patrick Roy posted an 18-save shutout in a 3?0 Colorado victory that gave them the series lead. When Colorado took game four, 3?1, the series victory for the Avalanche looked all but certain: they were up in the series, 3?1, and were heading home for two of the next three games. During game four, desperate to shake some life into his team, Minnesota coach Jacques Lemaire inserted Manny Fernandez into goal after incumbent goalie Dwayne Roloson allowed two goals to Joe Sakic in the first eight minutes.
But the Wild hung tough, jumping out to a 3?0 lead and ultimately hanging on to win game five in Denver, 3?2. They then headed home for a tense game six. After a scoreless first 40 minutes, each team scored twice in the third period, and the game went to overtime tied, 2?2. Minnesota ended the game when Richard Park tallied his second goal of the game 4:22 in to force a game seven in Denver. In game seven, the teams again played to a 2?2 tie after 60 minutes, but Andrew Brunette ended the game and the series 3:25 into overtime to give the Wild the stunning series comeback victory. This goal was also the last one Hall of Fame goalie Patrick Roy would give up in his illustrious career, as the goaltender would announce his retirement during the following off-season.
Minnesota won series 4?3
The series opened at Pepsi Center in Denver, but the Wild won a close-fought game one, 4?2. Game two was closer, but the Avalanche tied the series, 1?1, with a much-needed 3?2 victory. The series then shifted venue to the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul for game three, and Avalanche goaltender Patrick Roy posted an 18-save shutout in a 3?0 Colorado victory that gave them the series lead. When Colorado took game four, 3?1, the series victory for the Avalanche looked all but certain: they were up in the series, 3?1, and were heading home for two of the next three games. During game four, desperate to shake some life into his team, Minnesota coach Jacques Lemaire inserted Manny Fernandez into goal after incumbent goalie Dwayne Roloson allowed two goals to Joe Sakic in the first eight minutes.
But the Wild hung tough, jumping out to a 3?0 lead and ultimately hanging on to win game five in Denver, 3?2. They then headed home for a tense game six. After a scoreless first 40 minutes, each team scored twice in the third period, and the game went to overtime tied, 2?2. Minnesota ended the game when Richard Park tallied his second goal of the game 4:22 in to force a game seven in Denver. In game seven, the teams again played to a 2?2 tie after 60 minutes, but Andrew Brunette ended the game and the series 3:25 into overtime to give the Wild the stunning series comeback victory. This goal was also the last one Hall of Fame goalie Patrick Roy would give up in his illustrious career, as the goaltender would announce his retirement during the following off-season.
Minnesota won series 4?3
