Cale Makar Returns From Injury, Scores Twice as Avalanche Outlast Wild 9-6 in Wacky Game 1

Key facts

• Cale Makar scored twice in the third period after leaving the game in the first period with an undisclosed injury.
• The game featured 15 total goals, tying for the second-most in a playoff game and the 10th playoff game ever with at least 15 goals.
• Colorado scored three goals in 121 seconds to take a 3-0 lead midway through the first period.
• Minnesota answered with two goals in 62 seconds to pull within 3-2, then scored three goals in 10 minutes to take a 5-4 lead.
• Devon Toews had a goal and three assists for Colorado; Quinn Hughes had a goal and two assists for Minnesota.
• Game 2 of the best-of-7 series is Tuesday at Ball Arena.

A Playoff Opener for the Ages

The puck dropped at Ball Arena in Denver on Sunday night, and what followed was a blur of goals, injuries, and comebacks that left even the coaches searching for words. The Colorado Avalanche, the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, defeated the Minnesota Wild 9-6 in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series, in a game that featured 15 combined goals — the 10th playoff game ever to reach that mark and just the second since 1994. “If you scripted that one, I don’t know how you do. I can’t explain it,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar said after the game. The victory was not without its scares. Cale Makar, the Avalanche’s star defenseman, left the game early in the first period after taking a hit along the end boards from Wild forward Marcus Foligno. He returned for the second period and went on to score twice in the third, including the go-ahead goal with 2:54 remaining.

A Rollercoaster of Goals and Momentum Shifts

The game began with Colorado seizing control. Sam Malinski opened the scoring at 11:12 of the first period, roofing a wrist shot from the right circle over Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt’s left shoulder. Just 52 seconds later, Jack Drury made it 2-0 after a defensive miscue by Minnesota’s Jake Middleton, and Logan O’Connor fed Drury for a shot off the far post. The Avalanche then struck again 121 seconds into their surge, taking a 3-0 lead midway through the period. But the Wild responded with ferocity. Ryan Hartman, Mats Zuccarello, and Marcus Johansson scored in a span of 62 seconds, cutting the deficit to 3-2. The Avalanche pushed back early in the second period, with Artturi Lehkonen scoring at 4:00 to make it 4-2. Minnesota then unleashed its own storm: Vladimir Tarasenko, Quinn Hughes, and Marcus Foligno scored across 10 minutes to give the Wild a 5-4 lead late in the second. Before the intermission, however, Devon Toews tied the game at 5-5.

Makar’s Heroics and the Third-Period Frenzy

The third period was a showcase of resilience and offensive firepower. Cale Makar, who had been tentative after returning from his injury, found his rhythm. He scored at 4:07 of the third to put Colorado ahead 6-5, and Nazem Kadri added another at 6:00 to make it 7-5. Mats Zuccarello pulled the Wild within 7-6 with 4:00 remaining, but Makar struck again a minute later, and Nathan MacKinnon sealed the game with an empty-net goal at 17:52. Makar finished with two goals and an assist, while MacKinnon had a goal and two assists. Devon Toews contributed a goal and three assists, and Martin Necas added three assists. For the Wild, Quinn Hughes had a goal and two assists, and Jesper Wallstedt made 34 saves. Scott Wedgewood stopped 30 shots for Colorado. “Just a weird game,” Makar said. “I don’t think we’re going to see that again. It’s probably a one-off, but glad we were able to stick with it and find a way to win.”

Defensive Lapses and Lessons Learned

Despite the offensive explosion, both coaches acknowledged significant defensive shortcomings. Bednar lamented his team’s lack of defensive discipline, saying, “It's not that we weren't emotionally engaged in the game and physically engaged in the game, because I think we were, but not enough on the defensive side. We were on the offensive side. Forecheck looked good. We did some good things, but like when it came to the defending, I feel like we forgot a little bit just how hard we need to work to be good defensively.” Minnesota coach John Hynes echoed a similar sentiment, calling the game “helter-skelter” and emphasizing the need to clean up certain areas. “If you lose a game, you’ve got to take the lessons out of it, move on. If you win a game, you’ve got to take the lessons out of it and continue to move on. That’s what playoff hockey is,” Hynes said.

Historical Context and What Comes Next

The 15-goal game tied for the second-most in a playoff game in NHL history, a remarkable feat given that both teams entered the series with strong defensive reputations and elite goaltenders. The Avalanche are the No. 1 seed from the Central Division, while the Wild are the No. 3 seed. Game 2 of the best-of-7 series is scheduled for Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET at Ball Arena, with coverage on ESPN, SN, TVAS, and CBC. Captain Gabriel Landeskog summed up the mood in the Colorado locker room: “It’s nice to be able to win games like this. Not necessarily a coach’s dream or a player’s dream — we don’t want to give up six goals. It’s good to win this one but we’ve got lots of things to clean up.”

The bottom line

• Cale Makar returned from an injury to score twice in the third period, leading Colorado to a 9-6 win.
• The game featured 15 goals, tying for the second-most in playoff history and the 10th game ever with at least 15 goals.
• Colorado blew a 3-0 lead but rallied after trailing 5-4 in the second period.
• Both coaches emphasized the need for better defensive play despite the offensive fireworks.
• Game 2 is Tuesday at Ball Arena, with the series tied 1-0 in favor of Colorado.