Above: From left, Wild players Clayton Stoner, Kyle Brodziak, Nate Prosser and Matt Cooke celebrated a goal by Brodziak in the second period as Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov looked away. Varlamov still did enough to earn his 11th career playoff victory.
LEFT: Wild goalie John Curry started his Thursday at Pepsi Center with a target a bit larger than a hockey puck, as he and teammates warmed up with a ball. The 30-year-old Curry backed up Wild starter Ilya Bryzgalov.
below: Fans cheered during the pregame festivities at the Pepsi Center. The two-time Stanley Cup champion Avalanche made its first postseason appearance since 2010, when it lost to San Jose in the first round.
Fans cheered during the pregame festivities of game 1 between the Minnesota Wild Colorado Avalanche. ] CARLOS GONZALEZ cgonzalez@startribune.com - April 17, 2014, Denver, Colorado, Pepsi Center, NHL, Minnesota Wild vs. Colorado Avalanche, Stanley Cup Playoffs round 1, Game 1 (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Kyle Brodziak (21) shot the puck past Colorado goalie Semyon Varlamov (1) for a goal in the second period. ] CARLOS GONZALEZ cgonzalez@startribune.com - April 17, 2014, Denver, Colorado, Pepsi Center, NHL, Minnesota Wild vs. Colorado Avalanche, Stanley Cup Playoffs round 1, Game 1 (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Clayton Stoner (4), Kyle Brodziak (21), Nate Prosser (39) and Matt Cooke (24) celebrated a goal by Brodziak in the second period. ] CARLOS GONZALEZ cgonzalez@startribune.com - April 17, 2014, Denver, Colorado, Pepsi Center, NHL, Minnesota Wild vs. Colorado Avalanche, Stanley Cup Playoffs round 1, Game 1 (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
![Minnesota Wild goalie John Curry and teammates warmed up with a soccer ball before game 1 against the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center in Denver. ] CARLOS GONZALEZ cgonzalez@startribune.com - April 17, 2014, Denver, Colorado, Pepsi Center, NHL, Minnesota Wild vs. Colorado Avalanche, Stanley Cup Playoffs round 1, Game 1](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/KXDCMO4KLNYOQYW4GZWUUS4SQ4.jpg?&w=1080)
![Fans cheered during the pregame festivities of game 1 between the Minnesota Wild Colorado Avalanche. ] CARLOS GONZALEZ cgonzalez@startribune.com - April 17, 2014, Denver, Colorado, Pepsi Center, NHL, Minnesota Wild vs. Colorado Avalanche, Stanley Cup Playoffs round 1, Game 1](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/U3H7FYBRCD2TSD3CW3ERMIAYQE.jpg?&w=1080)
![Kyle Brodziak (21) shot the puck past Colorado goalie Semyon Varlamov (1) for a goal in the second period. ] CARLOS GONZALEZ cgonzalez@startribune.com - April 17, 2014, Denver, Colorado, Pepsi Center, NHL, Minnesota Wild vs. Colorado Avalanche, Stanley Cup Playoffs round 1, Game 1](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/WXXLEDJO3KD5USZHWB4WT36QGE.jpg?&w=1080)
![Clayton Stoner (4), Kyle Brodziak (21), Nate Prosser (39) and Matt Cooke (24) celebrated a goal by Brodziak in the second period. ] CARLOS GONZALEZ cgonzalez@startribune.com - April 17, 2014, Denver, Colorado, Pepsi Center, NHL, Minnesota Wild vs. Colorado Avalanche, Stanley Cup Playoffs round 1, Game 1](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/UYWXHR32JGSNGEMJ6VIETDLJQY.jpg?&w=1080)
