Two of the NHL's stingiest defenses. Two of the game's most dominant goaltenders. A second-round series that promised tight-checking, low-scoring hockey. Then Game 1 happened.

In a wild, unforgettable opener in Denver, the Colorado Avalanche outlasted the Minnesota Wild 9-6 in a game that had absolutely nothing to do with defense. A stunning 14 different players found the scoresheet, and the goaltenders—normally the stars of this series—were left shaking their heads.

"It was a weird one," admitted Avalanche star Cale Makar, the only player to score multiple goals in the frenzy. "Weird game for sure," echoed Wild defenseman Jake Middleton. "It's the playoffs. You can't be too surprised with what transpires."

Colorado netminder Scott Wedgewood, who allowed just five goals total in a first-round sweep of the Los Angeles Kings, surrendered six in this game alone. Across the ice, Minnesota's Jesper Wallstedt gave up a career-high eight goals before an empty-netter sealed the madness. The Avalanche, who allowed the fewest goals in the NHL during the regular season, jumped to a 3-0 lead less than seven minutes in. Then the Wild roared back, scoring five of the next six goals. Momentum swung like a pendulum all night, with five goals scored in each of the three periods.

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

"It felt like the puck just had eyes today for them," Wallstedt said.

The Avs entered these playoffs with two straight 2-1 nail-biters against the Kings, and fans expected more of the same in this series. Instead, they got a 15-goal shootout between two teams built on defense. "Versatility," Kadri said. "That's what we always talk about. Whether we've got to go high-flying or grind it out, we can do both."

Both teams now head to Game 2 at Ball Arena with one clear promise: tighten up. But for one night, the NHL's best defenses took a backseat to an offensive explosion nobody saw coming.