The Colorado Avalanche became the first Western Conference team to advance in the playoffs yesterday with a 2-1 win over the Wild. Ben Guite scored a short-handed goal in the first for the Avs and Ryan Smyth got the game-winner with a little under 8 minutes left in the second. Avalanche captain Joe Sakic recorded his 100th career postseason assist on Guite’s goal.
Aaron Voros was the lone goal-getter for Minnesota, scoring 36 seconds into the second period to temporarily tie things up.
And today the Red Wings finished off Nashville on the strength of a 20-save shutout by “backup” goalie Chris Osgood. Nicklas Lidstrom (Short-handed) and Jiri Hudler beat Predators netminder Dan Ellis and Brian Rafalski added any empty-net goal with 5 seconds left.
