After missing the first two preseason games, Mikael Granlund had a hand in both goals Saturday in the Wild's 2-1 preseason win over Colorado.
Granlund, who led the Wild with 69 points last season, signed a three-year, $17.25 million contract last month. Coach Bruce Boudreau gave Granlund, 25, the same treatment he gave 30-somethings Mikko Koivu, Ryan Suter and Eric Staal, holding them out of the first two preseason games.
Granlund was back on his line with Koivu and Jason Zucker and played extensively on the power play and penalty kill.
Standing behind the Colorado goal on a first-period power play, Staal fed Granlund on the doorstep, and Granlund buried it. Early in the second period, on another power play, Granlund slid a pass to Matt Dumba, who one-timed a slap shot past Jonathan Bernier.
"Your timing is off, everything is off," Granlund said of seeing his first game action. "When you get a couple games in, you start feeling better. So now that was the first one and let's move on."
The Wild, which killed all eight of the Avalanche power play chances, plays at Colorado on Sunday in the fourth of seven preseason games before opening the season Oct. 5 at Detroit.
