The 2015-2016 season got underway on Thursday night when the Minnesota Wild traveled to Denver to take on the Colorado Avalanche in what has become one of the NHL's biggest rivalries. 

Colorado got the scoring started in the first period when Jarome Iginla scored on the powerplay after a penalty to Jonas Brodin, to make it a 1-0 Avalanche lead. They added to that lead a few minutes later when Minnesota native Erik Johnson scored a goal after a delay of game penalty was assessed to Mikko Koivu of Minnesota. The Avalanvche got a third goal before the period ended when Gabriel Landeskog scored his first of the season to put the Avalanche up 3-0 after the first period.

The Wild got on the board in the second period when Zach Parise scored on a wrist shot that trimmed the Colorado lead to just two goals. Colorado got that goal back just minutes later when John Mitchell scored to put the Avalanche back up by three goals. 

Entering the third period, the Wild needed to do something to wake themselves up, and they got the spark early in the third period when Parise scored his second goal of the night on a play that showed his never give up attitude. He had been hit, then got up and scored the goal that cut the Avalanche lead to just two goals with 13 minutes to go in the third period.

Not even two minutes later, the Wild scored again when Nino Niederreiter scored on a pass from Jason Zucker that brought the Wild to within one goal with over half the period still left to play. They tied the game a short time later when Thomas Vanek sent one to the back of the net. Parise then record his third career hat trick when he scored on a power play to put the Wild up 5-4 after a remarkable rally. That goal was disputed by Colorado as it appeared that the Wild should have been called for icing, which would have negated the goal, but the referees did not see it that way, despite protests from the Avalanche bench.

Colorado did everything they could to tie the game, even pulling their goalie with three minutes left to play, but it was not enough as the Wild held on to win their season opener.

"It was two really good teams playing, and it was entertaining," Parise said following the win. "It was rewarding for us to play better in the third period and sneak out with a win."

For the Wild, they are now 1-0 on the young season, and will return home to St Paul on Saturday to face the St. Louis Blues. Colorado, meanwhile, will now host the Dallas Stars on Saturday evening. 

VAVEL USA THREE STARS OF THE GAME

1) Zach Parise (Minnesota)

2) Thomas Vanek (Minnesota)

3) Francois Beauchemin (Colorado)