Sports

Game 7, in all its icy glory

May 1, 2014 at 7:49AM

Carrie Burgess was brought to the game by friend Chris Mordick, who grew up in Stillwater and now lives in Denver. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

We play those other six games to get to this one, and sometimes we never get here, so Game 7 is always worth savoring. It has occurred only three times in Wild history, twice on the team's run to the Western Conference finals in 2003 and this year. The Wild is — still — undefeated.

Minnesota Wild Stephane Veilleux takes the ice against the Colorado Avalanche before the first period of play Wednesday during game 7 of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Wednesday at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. ] CARLOS GONZALEZ cgonzalez@startribune.com - April 30, 2014, Denver, Colorado, Pepsi Center, NHL, Minnesota Wild vs. Colorado Avalanche, Stanley Cup Playoffs round 1, Game 7 (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Visibility was low when the Wild’s Nino Niederreiter was slowed by the Avalanche defense during the first period Wednesday. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Wild goalie Darcy Kuemper steered away an early threat presented by the Avalanche’s Jamie McGinn. (Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Mikko Koivu’s first-period goal gave Wild fans in the stands a chance to make themselves obvious. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Wild fans who made the trip slumped amid the Colorado celebration after the Avalanche went up 4-3. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Two players who have made their skills obvious during the series, the Wild’s Mikael Granlund and the Avalanche’s Nathan MacKinnon, danced that dance. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)