DENVER – Compared with the disjointed jumble they were the night before, the Wild debuted like a jigsaw against the Avalanche.
They were cohesive and competitive, skating night-and-day better than when they were dumped by five goals Thursday by Utah Hockey Club. But there’s a difference between improving from a clunker to a non-playoff team and one-upping a contender like Colorado, and that was evident when the Wild eventually caved 5-2 Friday night at Ball Arena to go home emptyhanded from their road trip and on a three-game losing streak.
“The last two games we’ve found numerous ways to beat ourselves,” coach John Hynes said. “We talk a lot about playing a smart game, the details of the game. We didn’t have it in these two games at a high enough level, and it cost us.”
A pair of goals in 52 seconds during a second period controlled by the Avalanche separated them from the Wild for good, turning a 2-1 advantage for the Wild into a 3-2 deficit that was extended before the period ended in a 12-4 shot mismatch.
Four Colorado players scored — none named Nathan MacKinnon — and 11 had at least a point, including goalie Mackenzie Blackwood, who also made 19 saves as the Avalanche moved into a tie with the Wild in the Central Division at 72 points.
“Everything seems to tighten up at this point in time,” captain Jared Spurgeon said. “So, you’ve just gotta get back to our winning ways.”
The Wild held on to third place only because they’ve played one fewer game, but the pressure is on to protect their position — while dealing with another injury.
Zach Bogosian (lower body) did not suit up. He’s considered day-to-day. Jon Merrill took Bogosian’s place, but the Wild made other changes: Brendan Gaunce drew in for Devin Shore on the fourth line, and the top two lines were shuffled, and that worked for the Wild early on: Marcus Johansson fed a wide-open Mats Zuccarello in front just 4:14 into the first for Zuccarello’s first goal in 10 games.