Backstrom stops 37 shots, Wild top Avalanche 1- - NHL - By: Leroy Hubbard

Playoff hockey video games until finally the end of the season are going to be 1-, two-1 and 3-two games. We just have to discover a way to play the same way defensively and sooner or later items are going to go in for us." Zanon's goal came on the Wild's initial shot of the game.

Kyle Brodziak won a draw from David Van Der Gulik in the appropriate faceoff circle right after the Avalanche iced the puck. Brodziak slid the puck back to Dany Heatley, and he passed to Zanon, who skated to his left above the circles and fired a screen shot past Giguere.

"It was a matter of just obtaining pucks to the net," Zanon said. "Brodzie did a good occupation winning the faceoff and we had guys at the net. It was practically nothing breathtaking, just a matter of obtaining the puck there." Explained Giguere: "It was a shot that went via a bunch of guys. It really is unfortunate, but sometimes these items happen. Much more often than not our D' will block that shot and that would be the finish of it. That was the story of the game and that is the way it is." The Avalanche may well have regarded that 1 purpose would be lots for Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom, who completed with 37 saves and watched his teammates block 26 shots.

Backstrom owns a 20-five-two profession record against Colorado with four shutouts. That consists of a 9-2-one mark with three shutouts in Denver. He's 6-1-one in the previous eight games and has permitted a single objective or fewer in six of them.

"Every single time we play here, it is a a single-goal game and a battle," Backstrom mentioned soon after pocketing his 25th profession NHL shutout. "It's a difficult group to play against, a skilled group, and it is generally a huge challenge for us. It really is a wonderful making to perform in. But when you come in right here you feel negative due to the fact of the altitude.

"The guys did a seriously very good task in front of me with a genuine sound defensive game, specifically in the second half. The D' did a great task and the forwards assisted them a great deal. That was the essential tonight." Avalanche center Ryan O'Reilly was so upset with the loss that he remained seated at his locker in complete uniform with his head bowed soon after most teammates had left the room.

Still sporting his uniform well following the game, sitting with his chin in his hand, Avs center Ryan O'Reilly castigated himself for losing two faceoffs in the final 1:20.

The teams traded scoring probabilities in the second, but neither broke by way of.

Colorado had ten shots in the 2nd and almost scored on Jay McClements sliding possibility in the final minute.

"I have only myself to blame appropriate there. I've got to win people," explained O'Reilly, who had a uncommon off night in the faceoff circle, winning 41 percent. "The group is looking to me to step up offensively proper now, and I have not done it. Maybe I have to go back to basics."

About the Author

E.Z. Jacobs writes about hockey for a variety of newspapers. In his spare time, Elijah works for a no kill animal shelter in Denver, CO. Jacobs lives with his a couple of puppies just outside Denver, CO. To read more of Elijah's posts look at Minnesota Wild at Colorado Avalanche Game Recap - 02/02/2012.

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