When two of the NHL's stingiest defenses and most formidable goaltenders collide in a second-round playoff series, the expectation is a low-scoring, tightly contested battle. That narrative was blown out of the water on Sunday night.

In a stunning turn of events, the Colorado Avalanche outlasted the Minnesota Wild 9-6 in a game that featured a jaw-dropping 15 goals and 14 different scorers. It was a wild, unpredictable opener that left players on both sides shaking their heads.

"It was a weird one," said Avalanche star defenseman Cale Makar, who was the only player to net multiple goals in the game. "Weird game for sure," echoed Wild blueliner Jake Middleton.

Colorado goaltender Scott Wedgewood, who allowed just five goals total in the Avalanche's first-round sweep of the Los Angeles Kings, surrendered six goals in this single contest. Meanwhile, Minnesota's Jesper Wallstedt gave up a career-high eight goals before an empty-netter sealed the madness.

What made this even more surprising was the pedigree of these two teams. The Avalanche boasted the league's best regular-season record and allowed the fewest goals in the NHL, while the Wild were nearly as stingy. This was supposed to be a defensive chess match, not a goal-scoring festival.

"We did not expect that kind of game at all," said Avalanche center Nazem Kadri. "In fact, quite the opposite."

The game was a rollercoaster from the opening puck drop. Colorado jumped out to a commanding 3-0 lead less than seven minutes into the first period, only to see Minnesota roar back by scoring five of the next six goals. The teams traded blows throughout, with five goals scored in each period.

"It felt like the puck just had eyes today for them," Wallstedt admitted after the game.

For Wedgewood, the high-scoring affair was far from ideal, but he acknowledged the nature of playoff hockey. "Yeah, it's nothing either of us wants. Obviously we want a couple of them back on both sides. But you've got to give credit to the offenses. It's playoff hockey."

The Avalanche, who opened their playoff run with two tight 2-1 victories over the Kings, now find themselves in a series that has already defied all expectations. The crowd at Ball Arena, which anticipated a defensive battle, instead witnessed an offensive explosion.

"Versatility," Kadri said with a knowing smile. "That's what we always talk about."

Both teams have pledged to tighten up their defense ahead of Tuesday night's Game 2 back at Ball Arena. But after a performance like this, fans might be hoping for a little more of the same madness.