A physical first period turns advantageous for the visiting Minnesota Wild, as forward Matt Cullen converted two fluky goals past struggling Colorado Avalanche goalie Craig Anderson. Minnesota has a 2-1 lead heading into the first intermission.
Cullen’s first goal occurred at 9:43 in the first, as Anderson was caught sprawling out of the net making a save and Cullen was able to convert the rebound into a shorthanded goal 30 seconds into the Avalanche power play.
Colorado forward David Jones tied the game up less than a minute later, at 10:08, by powering his own rebound past Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom to tie the game. It was their 28th power play goal on the season as a team.
The tie was broken by yet another Matt Cullen goal at 16:04, as an errant pass bounced behind the boards and past a diving Anderson. Anderson tried to throw the puck out of the crease, but Cullen crashed into the goalie and forced the goal past the line.
Minnesota is outshooting Colorado 11-8 for the period.