The Minnesota Wild have lost four of their last five games, but the team exited the first period of their Tuesday night matchup with the Colorado Avalanche with a 2-1 lead. Colorado was thoroughly out-played in the opening period, getting out-shot 13-4, out-hit 14-8, dominated on faceoffs 13-5.
The Avalanche's T.J. Galiardi got Colorado on the scoreboard first when he beat Minnesota goalie Niklas Backstrom for his eighth goal of the season. Milan Hejduk and Gabriel Landeskog were each credited with assists.
Minnesota would tie the game when Justin Falk scored on a power play off assists from Devin Setoguchi and Matt Cullen. The score was Falk's first goal of the year.
With just over three minutes remaining in the period, Wild forward Dany Heatley made it 2-1 with his 15th goal of the season off assists from Kyle Brodziak and Greg Zanon.
For more coverage, visit our Avalanche blog at Mile High Hockey and our Wild blog at Hockey Wilderness.