Wild turn of events

Listless Avs blow another Game 5 on home ice

Colorado talked about the importance of taking care of business when it has a chance to. After all, despite the organization's run of excellence over the past eight seasons, the Avalanche haven't been efficient in attempting to close out opponents in the playoffs.

Captain Joe Sakic cited the seven-game battles with the Kings in each of the past two postseasons as prime examples. In both 2001 and 2002, Colorado led Los Angeles 3-1 in the series but failed to win Game 5 at the Pepsi Center to seal the deal. The Avs also lost Game 5 at home to the Sharks in last year's Western Conference Semifinals to fall down 3-2, but came back to take that series in seven games.

Well, talk is cheap when it comes to changing this recent history. And Minnesota was by far the more ready team Saturday. They were sharp in all areas of their game, while Colorado was a listless group, despite being aware of the opportunity it had to advance on home ice.

All you need to know is that the first goal scored in each game of this series has been telltale. The winner of each game has hit the big board first, and the Wild posted the best record in the NHL during the regular season when playing with a lead.

So what happened? Patrick Roy allowed a long-range slapper to elude him. It's a strange psychology to explain, but the difference in the energy and execution between the two teams was staggering.

The Wild were successful tactically as well, engaging their defensemen on the attack, with the first two goals coming from the blueline. And the rearguards were moving in from the blueline and shifting to the middle of the ice, a subtle adjustment for a team which usually slides their defensemen into the play wide on the weak side in the offensive zone.

Part of the reason for Minnesota's success -- and I suspect for the emphasis of the mid-ice attack point -- was that Colorado was collapsing and overcommitting to its low coverage. Subsequently, the Wild defensemen had more room to roam and easy access to the middle.

Sure, the Avs put forth a furious third-period bid to erase the 3-0 deficit, and they almost pulled it out. In fact, if the game had continued another five minutes, it is doubtful that the Wild would have hung on. But the goaltending of Manny Fernandez -- making his first playoff start -- made sure that not only is there five minutes left in this series, there is at least three full periods. And perhaps even three more after that.

Three Stars

First Star: Filip Kuba scored a goal and played against the top Avs attackers throughout.

Second Star: Pascal Dupuis scored what turned out to be the game-winning goal, and did it the Wild way by forcing Greg de Vries into a turnover at the blueline.

Third Star: Fernandez was solid through 40 minutes, and stronger still in weathering the onslaught in the third period, earning his first ever postseason victory and giving the fans in Minnesota another home game in the process.

Darren Eliot, a former NHL goaltender, is a hockey analyst for SI.com. Eliot will provide Stanley Cup Playoffs commentary throughout the postseason and is also broadcasting games for NHL Radio.

 

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