Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Wild left snow blind


It was turn back the clock night in Denver, as the Avalanche seemed to channel the spirit of the past champion teams in the blue and red jerseys.

Colorado administered a thorough thrashing of Jacques Lemaire's Wild on Tuesday night. Beating them on the score board, in the hit count and on the fight sheet.

The Avs were an unstoppable force in game four of their best of seven series on Tuesday, scoring five goals to ensure that extra time was not required for the first time in the series. By the time the second period was over the Avs had a commanding 5-0 lead and were cruising on their way to win number two.

Minnesota looked more like the Wild of the expansion days than the well disciplined and system oriented team that has dominated much of the West this season.

The Avs just clicked on all their levels Tuesday, from goal tending to scoring and strong defensive play. And as would be expected in a 5-1 shellacking, even the rougher stuff that goes with a lopsided defeat went the way of the Avalanche.

They ran the Wild right out of their rink, a lesson that Lemaire will no doubt make quite clear to his charges as they prepare for game number five on Thursday night.

Minneapolis Star Tribune-- Wild tattered; series is tied 2-2
Rocky Mountain News-- Physical passed
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NHL.com-- Stats Pack

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