DENVER -- The Colorado Avalanche didnt need a shootout to get off to their best start in franchise history. When they faced one, they were once again successful. Ryan OReilly scored the only goal in the shootout, Semyon Varlamov stopped 35 shots and the Avalanche beat the Minnesota Wild 3-2 on Saturday night. Gabriel Landeskog and Nathan MacKinnon had a goal apiece to help the Avalanche sweep the home-and-home series with the Wild. "It was a good couple games against Minny, they obviously play a pretty tough game," MacKinnon said. "Down low, theyre tough to defend. Its always nice to get on the board a little bit, but obviously getting two wins is huge for us." Colorado and the New York Rangers were the only teams to yet have a game decided in a shootout before Saturday. Despite their lack of experience, the Avalanche came out on top. "(I was) nervous, same as usually," Varlamov said. "Nobody, none of the goalies, nobody likes the shootouts." John Mitchell added two assists for Colorado, which won a rare penalty-free game. "I was a little bit (surprised) considering how much time was spent in the offensive zone," Minnesota coach Mike Yeo said regarding the lack of penalty calls. Mikko Koivu and Matt Cooke scored goals and Josh Harding stopped 23 shots for the Wild. Minnesota has dominated the Avalanche in Colorado since the 2007-08 season. The Wild came into Saturday with a 12-2-2 record since midway through that season, and they had won six of their past seven at Pepsi Center. The Avalanche looked as if they would win comfortably despite Minnesota carrying the play when Cooke spoiled the shutout bid with 3:27 left to make it 2-1. "I think we had five or six grade-A chances in the first period alone and sometimes thats frustrating," Cooke said. "But its up to us to just try to keep each other positive and the fact that were getting those scoring opportunities is a good thing. We just need to stay on it." Harding came off for an extra skater in the final minute, and Koivu beat Varlamov on a slap shot with six seconds left to send the game into overtime. "Nobody wants to give up a goal with 4 seconds left," Varlamov said. "The third period we sat back the last 10 minutes and they started to get more chances around the net and that is why we gave up two goals. It is what it is. We were able to get two points." Neither team could score in the extra period, sending the Avalanche to their first shootout of the season. Despite never having competed in an NHL shootout -- or coaching in one -- coach Patrick Roy didnt hesitate in picking his shooters. He chose the only players to score in one in the teams last practice. "It made it kind of easy," Roy said. Harding made saves on P.A. Parenteau and MacKinnon before OReilly broke through. Jason Pominville couldnt match the goal and Minnesota lost for the second straight night. "I just tried to open up my blade and try to look like I was going to shoot it and kind of put it through," OReilly said. For Minnesota, getting a point after trailing late was some consolation. "Thats a huge point for us. It was great the way we played the game," Yeo said. "We lost the skill competition at the end of the game, the shootout, whatever you want to call it. Bottom line I really believe we deserved the win in regulation." Coming off a tough loss to Colorado in St. Paul on Friday night, Minnesota was looking to get even but Saturdays game started like Fridays ended. Landeskog, who sealed Fridays 3-1 win with an empty-net goal, gave the Avalanche the early lead when his backhand from the side of the net deflected off Harding and into the goal 2:22 into the game. It was his ninth goal of the season. The Wild nearly tied it later in the first when Cookes backhand slipped under Varlamov and lay on the goal line for a moment and the goalie covered it up. It was reviewed and determined the puck never completely crossed the line. Minnesota had another great chance in the second period when Torrey Mitchell got ahead of the defence, took a pass from Cooke and had a breakaway on Varlamov. The goalie stopped the backhander to preserve the one-goal lead. "Some nights you get a hot goalie and we surely did that tonight," Koivu said. Colorado added to the lead later in the second when Marco Scandella turned it over in his own end. Mitchell got the puck to a wide-open MacKinnon, and the rookie beat Harding with a wrister at 12:56 of the period. It was his fifth goal of the season. NOTES: It was the second time in the Colorado/Quebec franchise history that the team played a penalty-free game. The other happened April 9, 2000, against Detroit. ... Mitchell reached 100 career points with his two assists. ... Wild LW Zach Parise played in his second straight game after missing one with a foot contusion. ... 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With a victory seemingly slipping away late in the third quarter, his quick scoring flurry helped Golden State regain control early in the fourth. wholesale jerseys china . - While he appreciates suggestions from Packers fans of remedies for his sore left calf, Aaron Rodgers is not necessarily going to listen to the advice.CLEVELAND -- The squirrel was fearless. Zach McAllister wasnt nervous, either. Jason Kipnis and Michael Brantley hit two-run homers to back McAllister, powering the Cleveland Indians over the Kansas City Royals 4-3 Monday night when a trespassing squirrel ran around Progressive Field and provided some extra entertainment. Kipnis connected in the sixth inning off Jeremy Guthrie (2-1), helping the Indians overcome a 3-2 deficit. Brantley provided Cleveland a 2-0 lead in the fourth. McAllister (3-0) gave up six hits and overcame three errors -- one on his errant throw in the fifth. Marc Rzepczynski and Cody Allen pitched a hitless inning each, and closer John Axford worked a 1-2-3 ninth for his seventh save. After the Royals scored three times, McAllister got out of the fifth with an inning-ending double play and then shook off third baseman Lonnie Chisenhalls error in the sixth and notched his third straight win. "He didnt let anything rattle him," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "He worked to execute pitches. He was strong." McAllister also withstood a brief delay in the second when a squirrel ventured onto the field and eluded members of the grounds crew before finally leaving for the night. "He was right in front of me," McAllister said. Indians first baseman Nick Swisher motioned for the critter to run to him, but it darted past and into the outfield grass. "I was like, Cmon over here and sit in my glove," Swisher said. "I thought maybe hed sit on my shoulder like a parrot. I tell you what, that squirrel is eating, bro. That was a big squirrel." The squirrel was directed inside the Royals bullpen by some of the grounds staff, but the slippery rodent escaped and returned for another scamper to the delight of the crowd of 10,789. The pesky intruder hung around for another inning before it was shooed into the Indians centre-field bullpen. The squirrel perched on a ledge for several minutes before jumping the wall into the Heritage Park monument area. "That little joker was frolicking," Royals manager Ned Yost said. &quoot;They could have arrested him for trespassing because he didnt have a ticket.dddddddddddd" Alex Gordon and Omar Infante each had two of the Royals six hits. Indians designated hitter Jason Giambi went hitless in four at-bats in his season debut. He missed Clevelands first 18 games with a broken rib. Swisher led off the sixth with his second double, and Kipnis followed with his third homer, a drive into the seats in right-centre. Kipnis is 8 of 13 (.615) with two homers and six RBIs off Guthrie, who except for the home runs pitched effectively for 6 1-3 innings. Helped by McAllisters throwing error, the Royals scored three runs in the fifth to take a 3-2 lead. Mike Moustakas doubled to open the inning and scored when diving centre fielder Michael Bourn couldnt squeeze a sinking liner by Alcides Escobar. Jarrod Dyson followed with a bunt toward third that McAllister fielded cleanly before throwing wildly past first, allowing Escobar to score. One out later, Infantes RBI single put the Royals in front. Brantley connected in the fourth for his team-leading fourth homer, and second in two days. Kipnis led off with a double, and with one out, Brantley drove a 2-1 pitch from Guthrie over the wall in right. Brantley only hit 10 homers last season, and Francona believes the 26-year-old could develop into a more potent power hitter because "he gives himself a chance every at-bat." NOTES: Royals 1B coach Rusty Kuntz broke his left arm when he struck by a line drive hit by Salvador Perez during batting practice. Kuntz, who will undergo surgery on Wednesday, was replaced by Mike Jirschele. ... The Indians entered the week as one of four teams -- the Reds, Rockies and Padres are the others -- yet to play an extra-inning game. ... With Giambi available, Francona gave struggling DH/3B Carlos Santana the night off. Santana was just 2 for 38 in his past 10 games. ... Royals LHPs Tim Collins (strained hip) and Francisley Bueno (sprained finger) is to throw a simulated game Tuesday. Manager Ned Yost said both will go on a minor league rehab before being activated. ' ' '