Minnesota Wild Forward Calls Out Dirty Avs Defenseman on TV
The Minnesota Wild are trying to pull out a victory in Game 4 of their NHL Playoff series against the Colorado Avalanche on Monday night. If they can pull it out, the series will be tied 2-2 heading back to Denver for Game 5.
If not, the Wild will make the return flight to the Mile High City with their backs up against the wall and in need of three-straight victories to advance.
Josh Manson hits MN Wild forward Michael McCarron with butt-end of stick
The Avalanche dominated the first 1.5 periods Monday night, but Minnesota snuck in an early goal on the front end of a four-minute major penalty slapped on Avs defenseman Josh Manson during the first period.
The penalty was deserved. After Wild forward Michael McCarron laid a hard (and perfectly legal) hit on Manson, he pulled McCarron to the ice and then hit him in the face with the butt-end of his stick.
Manson got a double minor for this jab on McCarron with the end of his stick 😳 pic.twitter.com/iLSABqY6rC
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 12, 2026
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Obviously, one penalty doesn’t make a player’s reputation. However, this was a clear and intent act from a guy who has a reputation for dirty plays, and could have warranted a game misconduct for Manson, who is playing his first game back after spending the Avs last four games out with injury.
McCarron calls Manson “a dirty player”
Instead, Manson was able to return to the ice after he spent four minutes in timeout. However, while McCarron was surprised Josh didn’t receive a greater penalty, he wasn’t shocked by the fact it happened. As he put it during a first intermission interview with PK Subban on ESPN, “He’s a dirty player. He’s always been.”
Wow, Wild forward Michael McCarron calls Josh Manson "a dirty player" during his intermission interview with PK Subban on @ESPN, after Manson hit him with the butt-end of his stick in the first period.
— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) May 12, 2026
“I mean, you played against Josh. He’s a dirty player. He’s always been. Umm,… pic.twitter.com/byZqc0q0ig
Thankfully, Jesper Wallstedt stood on his head for the first forty minutes, allowing the game to stay 1-1 coming out for the third. The Minnesota Wild, meanwhile, flipped the momentum on Colorado and held serve for the back half of Game 4.
Unfortunately, the Avs were the first to score in the final regulation period, potting a goal with about 15 minutes remaining that put Colorado up 2-1. The Wild tied it up 2-2 shortly after the Avalanche took the lead, but another goal by Ryan Kelly took it back 3-2 with about 7 minutes left to play.
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