ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The Minnesota Wild were denied at the net by Semyon Varlamov time after time, a 44-shot barrage in regulation that resulted in, alas, zero goals. Coach Mike Yeo jokingly wondered aloud at the third intermission whether his team was "psychotic" to put itself through such angst. After all, the way this sport often goes, the next score in the scoreless game had the strong potential to be one of those bad-bounce goals that make a night of domination go for naught. Mikael Granlund made sure that didnt happen. Granlunds diving goal 5:08 into overtime gave the Wild a 1-0 win over the Colorado Avalanche in Game 3 on Monday. Minnesota pulled within 2-1 in the best-of-seven series after Varlamov stopped 45 of 46 shots, a franchise playoff record for shots on goal by the Wild. "You see it so many times where teams do so well and get chance after chance after chance and then a fluky one goes in against you. Luckily. that wasnt the case," said Wild left wing Zach Parise. Granlund, who had a career-high seven shots on goal, sliced toward the crease and moved parallel to the net with some slick stick work. Avalanche defenceman Erik Johnson, who saved Game 1 by racing to swat away a shot on an empty net, lost his balance and tried unsuccessfully to dive at Granlund, who then began to fall forward. Granlund extended his stick to knock the puck in, and the celebration ensued. "We were playing really good. We were creating chances. We got rewarded. We need to just keep playing like that," Granlund said. Game 4 is at Xcel Energy Center on Thursday, when the Avalanche will be without defenceman Tyson Barrie. He took a knee-to-knee hit in the second period that yielded a penalty for Matt Cooke and a medial collateral ligament injury for Barrie. Coach Patrick Roy said hell be need four to six weeks to recover. "Knee on Tyson Barrie is without a doubt the play of the game. We lost our best offensive defenceman," Roy said, expressing confidence the NHL will suspend Cooke. Darcy Kuemper made 22 saves, and the Wild goalie in his first career playoff start was just as good as Varlamov. He said he had a feeling this would be a one-goal game. "I just tried to stick with it and make the saves I had to," Kuemper said. "My teammates were obviously playing unbelievable and making it easy on me. I was just trying to do my job and stay sharp." After the Avalanche line of Nathan MacKinnon, Paul Stastny and Gabe Landeskog combined for 17 points and seven goals over the first two games, the Wild kept them from doing any damage. The Wild shuffled their lines, with veteran Dany Heatleys move off the scratch list the most notable change, and played their style. They didnt get enough guys to the net for long rebounds Varlamov has a tendency to produce, but they completely controlled the flow, even if there wasnt much to show for it. "We were a little on our heels. We couldve been a little bit better, played a little more simple," MacKinnon said. After wasting a 4-2 lead in Game 1, giving up the tying goal with 13 seconds left to Stastny, as well as the overtime winner, the Wild badly needed to recapture some energy. They did from the opening faceoff, firing up a crowd thats been waiting 11 years for a playoff series victory. The Wild finally figured out how to contain the super-fast MacKinnon, forcing the 18-year-old wonder to have to stay in his own zone. They had the Avalanche on their heels for the majority of regulation. Cooke was all over the ice in his 100th career playoff game, colliding with just about every white Colorado jersey. "We didnt play up to what were capable of, theres no doubt. But Id rather give them credit. They played well. They were sharp. They were the better team on the ice," Roy said, adding yet more praise for Varlamov. Thanks to Granlund, the Wild avoided the huge hole. "Lets not kid ourselves. This is a huge win for us, not only to get the win but the way that we played the game, the way that we played our game," Yeo said. "We know that next game is going to be even bigger and a tougher test, and were going to have to be real good. But theres no question that we needed this one."
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Dennis Schroder Jersey . The former central defender calmly nodded it down and quietly went about celebrating a win with his staff. For a man who has had a lot on his shoulders this season, it was an appropriate moment.FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Santonio Holmes is close to playing again for the New York Jets. After missing five games because of a hamstring injury, the wide receiver was limited in practice Wednesday but coach Rex Ryan was optimistic Holmes could be on the field Sunday at Buffalo. "I think now hes in a good spot and ready to return," Ryan said. "In my opinion, I think hell play. Well see as the week goes on, but I feel pretty good about him playing." Holmes went down in the Jets 38-13 loss at Tennessee on Oct. 3 and has been rehabilitating since. It appeared he might have a chance at playing in the Jets last game against New Orleans on Nov. 3, but was kept out and used the bye-week break to continue to heal. "He had a major hamstring injury," Ryan said. "It was the worst one weve had this year, by far. He was trying to come back and he did a great job in rehab. I think at the end, it got closer and closer. "Could he have played against New Orleans? If it was the Super Bowl, maybe. But Im not sure of that." Holmes, speaking after practice, acknowledged that hes excited about the prospects of playing this weekend, but is trying to remain cautiously optimistic. "At this point, its still day by day," he said. "Im inching a lot closer to playing and I just have to get the green light from the trainers. I can say, Yeah, I want to play, but the production on the field at practice and during the rehab stuff has to be drastically improved for them to give me the green light." His return would be a big boost to the Jets receiving corps, which will be without Jeremy Kerley for at least a few weeks with a dislocated elbow. Holmes, who missed most of last season with a foot injury, has 10 catches for 243 yards and a TD in four games. "At this point, being 5-4, we need all of our hands on deck," Holmes said. "So to get an opportunity to play with this team and to push for a playoff run is something that all of us want around here. I definitely have got to continue to take it one day at a time and be smart about the decision I want to make for the team and not just for myself." When healthy, Holmes is a proven playmaker and a player who commands attention from opposing defences. That could open opportunities for others, includinng Stephen Hill, who was held without a catch against New Orleans and has just 10 receptions for 107 yards in the five games Holmes has been sidelined.dddddddddddd The Jets have had to rely on contributions from unlikely sources in recent weeks, such as David Nelson, Josh Cribbs, Greg Salas and Zach Sudfeld -- all of whom who werent on the team until last month. "Tone definitely brings a lot of energy to our offence and veteran leadership," rookie quarterback Geno Smith said. "Hes obviously a tremendous playmaker and can make plays out on the field. Its just good to have him back. Hes a guy who definitely was a major part of this offence and we missed having over the span of time he wasnt here." Smith and Holmes were still working on building a rapport at the time of the receivers injury. Holmes was gradually worked back into the offence during training camp as he healed from his foot injury, and that slowed the chemistry. There were simple things such as knowing the routes Holmes likes to run, how Smith delivers the football and developing a trust in each other that the two are just getting back to improving. "At this point right now, its about moving forward and looking forward for what we can do now," Holmes said, "and not worry about what we didnt have in the beginning." Theres more good news for Smith and the Jets offence: Tight ends Kellen Winslow Jr. and Jeff Cumberland are expected to return. Winslow is back off a four-game suspension for violating the NFLs performance-enhancing substances policy, while Cumberland missed New Yorks last game because of a concussion. "It makes our offence, I think, not only more diverse, but it gives is a chance to exploit some matchups," Smith said. Kerley didnt practice, as expected, and Hill was limited with foot and knee ailments, but Ryan downplayed those. "I think hes had some of those (injuries)," Ryan said of Hill. "And, again, he practice. He was limited, but I dont know how limited. He looked pretty good to me." Defensive end Leger Douzable (illness) and linebacker Garrett McIntyre (knee) did not practice, while defensive tackle Kenrick Ellis (back) and backup running back Alex Green (hamstring) were limited.
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