Josh Manson Returns for Avs, Then Pays for One Costly Misread

Josh Manson is back on the blue line for Colorado, and that alone gives the Avalanche a more veteran look on defense. But the story does not stay clean for long, because one mistake turns into a Wild goal and instantly changes the mood. That is the thing about playoff hockey and playoff-adjacent hockey: one veteran decision can swing the whole bench. Manson’s presence matters, but so does the margin for error when the game speeds up.