Wild played Game 4 like it was their last chance to beat Avalanche

The Colorado Avalanche defeated the Minnesota Wild 5-2 in Game 4 of their second-round series Monday night, giving the Avs a 3-1 series lead and putting the Wild on the brink of elimination.

Minnesota could only muster 21 shots on Colorado netminder Mackenzie Blackwood, who made 19 saves to get the win. Wild goalie Jesper Wallstedt kept his team in it, stopping 29 of 32 shots from the Avs. It was a statement win for a Colorado group that lost 5-1 in Game 3, giving Minnesota life in the series.

On Tuesday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Tyler Yaremchuk and former NHL goaltender Carter Hutton discuss the Wild’s Game 4 loss and if their elimination is all but certain.

Tyler Yaremchuk: It really felt like Jesper Wallstedt had to be perfect for the Wild to comeback in this series. I know people are saying Quinn Hughes played more than 34 minutes in a game that didn’t need overtime. That is insane, to be playing more than half the game. Brock Faber also played 29 minutes.

This was very clearly the Minnesota coaching staff recognizing that Monday night was a must win. You wanted to get back in this series, you had to win your games on home ice, and they knew that Game 4 was their last shot … you’re not being this Avs team in three straight.

Carter Hutton: I heard Chris Pronger talking about the minutes he played during the Philadelphia Flyers’ 2010 Stanley Cup Final run. His actual matchups were against two different lines during the Final against the Chicago Blackhawks. There were times he would come off the ice, take 15 seconds, then get back out there.

That’s the time of year, and for guys like Quinn Hughes, you have to be difference makers. When you scroll through the contracts and you see the guys that are making $8, $10 or $12 million, this is your time of year to shine and be a difference maker.

You can watch the full segment and the rest of the episode here…