ST. PAUL, Minn., Jan. 14 (UPI) -- Craig Anderson took a shutout into the third period Friday and made 32 saves in lifting the Colorado Avalanche to a 4-1 victory over Minnesota.
The Avalanche won for only the fourth time in 12 games and did so after seeing their 19-year-old forward Ryan O'Reilly taken from the ice on a stretcher after he fell head first into the boards.
The incident came early in the second period with Colorado holding a 2-0 lead.
Kevin Porter and Milan Hejduk scored for the Avalanche in the opening period and Tomas Fleischmann expanded the lead with 5:15 to go in the second.
Anderson's bid for a shutout was spoiled by Andrew Brunette 4:14 into the third. Ryan Wilson completed the scoring with an empty-net goal that came in the final 50 seconds.
Minnesota had to turn to Anton Khudobin for his second career NHL start and he allowed three goals on 17 shots in the Wild's third straight setback.
No. 1 Minnesota goaltender and backup Jose Theodore are both recovering from hip injuries.
