Wild in a 0-2 hole in 2nd-round series, special teams slump deepens ahead of Game 3 against Colorado

DENVER (AP) 鈥� The Minnesota Wild left Denver in and amid an 0-for-5 power-play slump in the series.

It’s not difficult for the Wild to zero in on what needs the off days before the second-round series with Colorado resumes Saturday for Game 3 in St. Paul, Minnesota.

鈥淪pecial teams,鈥� Wild center Michael McCarron said.

The lack of power-play production has been a troubling trend of late for the Wild. They lead the postseason with 30 opportunities on the man advantage, but have four goals to show for it.

鈥淗ockey is hard right now, this time of year,鈥� forward Matt Boldy explained. 鈥淲e鈥檝e got to keep going and find ways to put the puck in the net.鈥�

In the regular season, the Wild were one of the top power-play units. But they were 4 of 25 in their six-game series and the troubles followed them to the Mile High City. Although they did have a short-handed tally in Game 1.

鈥淜eep our frustration away and keep going with what we have,鈥� captain Jared Spurgeon said. 鈥淥bviously, they鈥檙e a good team over there, and they鈥檙e going to make plays when we make mistakes, so we鈥檝e got to limit those. We鈥檝e had our chances as well. We鈥檝e just got to regroup here.鈥�

Minnesota is hoping a possible return of forward Joel Eriksson Ek may provide a spark. He didn鈥檛 make the trip to Denver as he recovers from a lower-body injury. Eriksson Ek and defenseman Jonas Brodin, who also stayed back with a lower-body injury, are scheduled to be re-evaluated before Game 3.

The penalty-kill hasn鈥檛 been up to par, either. The Wild are near the bottom in the playoff rankings, allowing 13 goals on 32 chances. Colorado is 3 of 7 on the power play in the series.

鈥淲e’ve got to figure it out … We have opportunities to get some momentum for ourselves, but it鈥檚 going the other way,鈥� Spurgeon said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e got to correct that and get on the same page there.鈥�

Any corrections jump out?

鈥淢ake our reads,鈥� McCarron explained. 鈥淭hey move the puck quick. We鈥檝e just got to be more aware of where guys are on the ice on the (penalty kill). We鈥檙e doing a lot better with our clears. We鈥檙e up and out. They鈥檙e getting some grade-A looks, though. We have to clean it up.鈥�

Another area of concern for the Wild is in the net. Jesper Wallstedt gave up eight goals in a 9-6 loss during Game 1. Minnesota made a change before Game 2 and inserted Filip Gustavsson. He surrendered four goals in a 5-2 loss in making his first start since April 13.

鈥淚 thought Gus gave us a chance to win,鈥� Wild coach John Hynes said. 鈥淭he difference in the game was the special teams. That鈥檚 basically what it comes down to.鈥�

For the high-scoring Avalanche, they’ve proven to be just as comfortable playing a wide-open game as a tight one.

鈥淲e know that wasn鈥檛 our best,鈥� Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog said of Game 1. 鈥淲e knew there were areas that we wanted to clean up. We studied them and then I thought we did a good job executing them. We were disciplined with the puck I thought we made good decisions.鈥�

It’s no secret to the Wild’s recipe for success: Stay out of the penalty box. The Wild have an NHL-leading 21 goals in the playoffs when it鈥檚 even strength.

鈥淭he way we play the game, you can see when we鈥檙e playing 5-on-5 that we鈥檙e getting our looks and we鈥檙e getting in zone time that we sustain and (are) putting them under pressure,鈥� Spurgeon said. 鈥淪o we (have to) keep that up.鈥�

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