1 The Wild hosted its first playoff game as a franchise in Game 3 of the Colorado series. The announced attendance of 19,354 at Xcel Energy Center was the largest ever for a hockey game in Minnesota. "You get goose bumps just thinking about it," Andrew Brunette said. "The ice was shaking."
2 In Game 6 against Colorado, the Wild blew a two-goal lead in the final 3½ minutes of regulation in an elimination game. But Richard Park scored 4:22 into overtime to force a Game 7.
3 Brunette scored the most important goal in team history in overtime of Game 7 against Colorado to give the Wild its first playoff series win. He squeezed a backhander past goalie Patrick Roy. "The goal will always stick in my mind," center Wes Walz said.
4 The Wild found itself in another 3-1 series hole against Vancouver. Facing elimination in Game 5 on the road, the Wild scored a team-record five goals in the second period for a 7-2 victory. Six players scored as the Wild began its second improbable comeback.
5 The Wild's hopes appeared bleak when it fell behind 2-0 to Vancouver midway through the second period in Game 7. But Pascal Dupuis changed momentum late in the period when he swatted in a deflected puck that had floated over goalie Dan Cloutier's head. That goal gave the Wild hope, and the team scored three times in the third period to advance to the Western Conference finals.
Chip Scoggins
