1. The home winning streak finally comes to an end.
The loss on Monday night ended the Wild's winning streak at Xcel Energy Center at a franchise record 11 games.
The Wild outscored opponents 35-14 during its streak, and went 65 days between losses at home (Jan. 30-April 5).
But on Monday, Minnesota could not overcome a four-goal second period outburst for Colorado, including two goals in the first 90 seconds of the second period for the Avalanche.
Trailing 4-1 heading into the final period, Minnesota was able to make it a two-goal game 3:35 into the period.
Ian Cole found Ryan Hartman for a breakaway and after whiffing on a shot attempt, Hartman found Nick Bjugstad for his sixth goal of the season.
Bjugstad had a goal and an assist on the night, his first multi-point game as a member of the Wild. He also recorded a Gordie Howe Hat Trick after fighting Kyle Burroughs in the third period.
Video: COL@MIN: Bjugstad scores in 3rd period
Gabriel Landeskog scored a power play goal 7:22 into the third period to make it a three-goal lead for Colorado again, but the Wild would not go away easily.
The Wild scored a power play goal of their own less than 2 1/2 minutes later when Marcus Johansson found the back of the net after finding a Ryan Suter rebound on his stick 9:44 into the third.
Video: COL@MIN: Johansson banks puck in for power-play goal
Kevin Fiala scored a 6-on-4 goal with 35 seconds remaining to make cut the deficit to 5-4, but Minnesota could not find the tying goal in the game's closing seconds.
Video: COL@MIN: Fiala scores PPG in 3rd period
Minnesota will have a chance to get back on track at home on Wednesday, when it faces the Avalanche again. The Wild play five of its next seven games at home.
2. Minnesota got off to a quick start.
Minnesota had given up the first goal in its past three games, but on Monday night, the Wild forced pressure on the Avalanche defense from the second the puck dropped.
The Wild outshot Colorado 8-1 in the first nine minutes of the game, including scoring the game's opening goal.
After a Devon Toews penalty, Minnesota went on the power play 5:36 into the game.
Minnesota had three shots on net with the man-advantage, but their best chance was not one of those. After a Kevin Fiala shot slipped past Avalanche goalie Philipp Grubauer, Jared Spurgeon was able to be the first one to get to the puck, but hit attempt knocked right off the post.
Less than two minutes later, the Wild finally got on the board. Nick Bjugstad chipped a puck past Avalanche defenseman Ryan Graves, won a wall battle against him and on a brilliant one-hand pass, found Ryan Hartman streaking toward the net to give the Wild the lead 8:40 into the game.
Video: COL@MIN: Hartman one-times rebound to open scoring
It was a rare loss for Minnesota after scoring the game's opening goal, they are now 17-3-1 when scoring first this season.
3. Fans were back at Xcel for the first time in over a year.
For the first time since March 3, 2020, the Wild welcomed fans back to Xcel Energy Center.
There were 3,000 fans were in attendance and the noise made by the crowd was very noticeable.
During the Wild's first power play of the game, the "Let's Go, Wild!" chants was a reminder of so many games and memories at Xcel Energy Center.
"It's great to real have faces and people coming to support us," forward Ryan Hartman said during the first intermission. "Obviously, they were supporting us from home, but it's not the same. It's good to have them in the building."
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