Saturday, April 26, 9:30 PM on TSN, RDS2, Alti

Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado

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The Minnesota Wild's defense were at their best for the second straight game and helped their team win 2-1 over the Colorado Avalanche to tie the series at two apiece. Minnesota was able to get 32 shots on goal, while their defense held the Avs to just 12, which is a new franchise record for fewest shots allowed by the Wild. Colorado couldn't convert on any of their four power play opportunities.

Jared Spurgeon was able to get his first goal of the playoffs and put the Wild up 1-0 three minutes into the first period. The next goal didn't come until the 12:55 mark of the second period when Charlie Coyle scored his third of the series on a power-play tally, which was assisted by Jason Pominville. Ryan O'Reilly put the Avalanche on the scoreboard less than a minute later, but that was all Colorado would get as the Wild would only allow them near their goal a few more times the rest of the game.

Wild goalie Darcy Kuemper didn't have much to do in the game, but he did save 11 of the 12 Avalanche shots on goal.

Avs netminder Semyon Varlamov was easily his team's best player and the reason why the score stayed so close. He ended up saving 30 of the 32 shots he saw and ended up with a .938 save percentage in the losing effort.

ATS Trends

Minnesota is 17-24 straight up on the road this season

Minnesota is 13-17-11 against the over/under on the road this season

Colorado is 26-15 straight up at home this season

Colorado is 18-22-1 against the over/under at home this season

Injuries to Watch

Minnesota

04/23/14 LW Matt Cooke Suspension expected to miss next 7 games
03/26/14 D Keith Ballard Groin out indefinitely
03/12/14 LW Jason Zucker Quad out for season
03/05/14 GO Niklas Backstrom Abdominal out for season
01/06/14 GO Josh Harding Illness out indefinitely

Colorado

04/21/14 D Tyson Barrie Knee expected to miss 4-6 weeks
04/18/14 C John Mitchell Concussion out indefinitely
04/17/14 D Cory Sarich Back expected to miss first round of playoffs
03/31/14 C Matt Duchene Knee expected to miss first round of playoffs
02/25/14 RW Milan Hejduk Personal has retired
02/20/14 LW Alex Tanguay Hip out for season

Josh's Pick: Take Colorado

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