ST. PAUL, Minn. — Marek Zidlicky scored the shootout winner over Peter Budaj’s glove, and Nick Schultz scored the tying goal with less than two minutes left in regulation in the Minnesota Wild’s 3-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday.
Zidlicky and Mikko Koivu scored in the shootout to give Minnesota a crucial two points.
Niklas Backstrom notched 24 shots for the win and stopped Milan Hejduk and Marek Svatos in the shootout, after Wojtek Wolski scored.
The win moved the Wild past St. Louis and Edmonton and into a tie with Dallas for the eighth and final Western Conference playoff spot — with all three teams still in action late Tuesday.
Budaj finished with 26 saves.
The Avalanche had two defensemen, Michael Vernace and Derek Peltier, in the lineup who were playing their first NHL games. Vernace was recalled Monday and Peltier Tuesday, both from Lake Erie, because Daniel Tjarnqvist was still having headaches after suffering facial cuts at Vancouver Sunday. Ruslan Salei had a foot injury. Adam Foote also remained out with a head injury.
After a scoreless first period, Peter Budaj was called on to make 10 saves for Colorado. Cody McLeod’s 13th goal of the season gave the Avs a 1-0 lead at 9:21 of the second.
Stephane Veilleux tied it at 11:05, tipping a Martin Skoula shot from the point past a screened Budaj.
Ryan Smyth’s 26th goal of the season broke the tie at 13:51 of the second, also on a tip, this time off Wolski’s shot from the high slot.
Footnote.
The Avalanche will practice Wednesday at Family Sports Center, and it’s possible that captain Joe Sakic might be on the ice and take part in the workout to a limited degree. He hasn’t played since Nov. 28 and is still hoping to sufficiently recover from back surgery, as well as broken fingers and tendon damage suffered in a snowblower accident.
Colorado 0 2 0 0 — 2
Minnesota 0 1 1 0 — 3
Minnesota won shootout, 2-1
First period — None. Penalties — McCormick, Col (interference), 11:04.
Second period — 1, Colorado, McLeod 13 (Guite), 9:21. 2, Minnesota, Veilleux 12 (Skoula, Belanger), 11:05. 3, Colorado, Smyth 26 (Wolski), 13:51. Penalties — Boogaard, Min (hooking), 3:53; Guite, Col (hooking), 16:31.
Third period — 4, Minnesota, N.Schultz 2 (Fritsche, Belanger), 18:14. Penalties — Guite, Col (holding), 12:02.
Overtime — None. Penalties — None.
Shootout — Colorado 1 (Wolski G, Hejduk NG, Svatos NG), Minnesota 2 (Koivu G, Bouchard NG, Zidlicky G).
Shots on goal — Colorado 9-12-4-1 — 26. Minnesota 10-9-9-1 — 29. Power-play opportunities — Colorado 0 of 1; Minnesota 0 of 3. Goalies — Colorado, Budaj 19-26-2 (29 shots-26 saves). Minnesota, Backstrom 31-20-7 (26-24).
Attendance — 18,568 (18,064). T — 2:32.
Referees — Paul Devorski, Tom Kowal. Linesmen — Brian Mach, Ryan Galloway.
