Overview
- Colorado beat Minnesota 9-6 on Sunday in Denver to open the second-round series with a 1-0 lead.
- Cale Makar scored twice, including the third-period go-ahead, after briefly leaving in the first with a lower‑body issue.
- Both starters struggled, with Scott Wedgewood allowing six for Colorado and Jesper Wallstedt yielding a career-high eight for Minnesota before an empty-netter.
- Colorado set a franchise playoff mark with nine goals and logged an NHL first by leading by three, falling behind, and still winning by three or more.
- The Avalanche also got goals from four defensemen and saw seven players post multi-point nights, and both teams said they will tighten up before Game 2 on Tuesday.