As expected, the Avs go up 2-0 on the short-handed Wild. Minny may have no choice but to rush Eriksson Ek and Brodin back. It needs the former’s three-zone grunt work and net-front play as well as the latter’s steadiness vs. speedy attackers. The team’s defense is dramatically worse without them.

Don’t love how Hynes handled the goaltending situation either.