Strong preseason perfor­mance: Two assists from Marco Rossi

Strong performance from Marco Rossi in Minnesota Wild's first preseason game against the Colorado Avalanche at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

After a 0:0 scoreline following the first period, the home side took a 2:0 lead in the second period through goals from Kirill Kaprizov and Calen Addison. Rossi registered his first assist on Addison's power-play goal. 

Spencer Smallman pulled the Avalanche back to 1:2 with a short breakaway in the final period before Shane Bowers levelled the score at 2:2. Rossi then recorded his second assist in overtime, as Ryan Hartman converted his cross-ice pass after 48 seconds to secure the 3:2 win for Minnesota Wild.  

Rossi saw 19:23 of ice time in total, including 2:32 on the power play and 44 while shorthanded, and also showed his strength in the face-off circle. The 21-year-old centre won 80 per cent of his face-offs.

Rossi said in the Wild dressing room after the strong performance: "I'm just trying to prove to everyone that I belong here!"