With their backs against the wall, the Colorado Avalanche were in need of a miracle in Game Three. The return of Peter Forsberg to the lineup after missing the first two games of the series filled the team and their fans with hope. But that's as good as it was going to get for Colorado, as not even Forsberg could prevent the Red Wings from taking a 3-0 series lead.

The first 10 minutes of the game were clearly going to be the key for the Avalanche. Had they come out and let the Red Wings have their way, the Avalanche would be in for a long 60 minutes. The Avalanche knew that to get under the Red Wings skin, they had to play physical hockey, and that’s what they did. Avalanche players were hitting everything that moved to set the tempo early on.

After having the flu during the first two games, Avalanche goaltender Jose Theodore was now 100 % and looking for redemption. Theodore made some big saves early in the first period to keep the Avalanche from falling behind early. Detroit’s Darren Helm had an opportunity after the puck bounced of special players, but Helm’s backhander landed right in the chest of Theodore.

Ian Laperriere nearly gave the Avalanche a 1-0 lead when he was all alone in front of Chris Osgood, but he was unable to control the bouncing puck. Laperriere passed the puck back to Scott Hannan for a one-timer, but Osgood was there to make the save. Cody McLeod did give the Avalanche a 1-0 lead when he redirected a T.J. Hensick shot past Osgood at 5:17 for his first career playoff goal.

Other than being out-shot 11-6 in the first 10 minutes, the Colorado Avalanche controlled the game with their physical play and that 1-0 lead, of course. Colorado needed to repeat the effort in the final 10 minutes of the period to go into intermission on a high note, but the Red Wings dominated the Avalanche over the final 10 minutes.

With Laperriere in the penalty box for the second time in the game, Henrik Zetterberg skated down the left side after taking a pass from Pavel Datsyuk; Zetterberg skated between the faceoff circles before dishing the puck off to Datsyuk for a one-timer past Theodore at 12:14. The Red Wings had now tied the game and the momentum was shifting.

It took only 58 seconds after the Datsyuk goal for the Red Wings to take the lead. Johan Franzen received a bouncing pass from Brett Lebda and fired a wrist shot past Theodore for a 2-1 Wings lead. The Red Wings out-shot the Avalanche 8-4 over the final 10 minutes and 19-10 for the period.

When Peter Forsberg left the game with about six minutes remaining in the period, it looked like the Avalanche were going to be right back where they were the first two games: without Forsberg. Forsberg returned for the start of the second period.

Detroit came out strong to start the second period with two quick opportunities only 21 seconds in. The period was back-and-forth until Datsyuk scored his second goal of the game at 7:46. Brian Rafalski appeared to shot the puck from the top of the faceoff circle, but the shot turned into a pass to Datsyuk who pulled it right around Theodore for a wide open net.

The Avalanche answered quickly on a power play goal only 1:32 after Datsyuk’s goal. John-Michael Liles received a pass from Joe Sakic and fired a one-timer that was deflected by Andrew Brunette past Osgood. Detroit would be given a golden opportunity when Forsberg took a double minor for high sticking at 9:33. The Red Wings capitalized when Datsyuk made a cross crease pass to Zetterberg for a wide open net. The Red Wings were once again back up by two.

Zetterberg nearly put the Red Wings up by three on the power play when he skated in front of Theodore from the boards. Theodore went down to the ice and Zetterberg had a wide open net, but the puck just trickled off his stick before he could get the shot off. Colorado came back moments after the power play ended when Laperriere and Hensick skated in 2-on-1. Laperriere’s shot bounced of Osgood and laid there, but Hensick was unable to get his stick on the loose puck.

Heading into the third period, the Avalanche were in a familiar spot that they’ve been in all series long: behind. With only 20 minutes separating them from a 3-0 deficit, the Avalanche needed to come out strong in the third and minimize Detroit’s chances.

The Avalanche had to come out strong in the third period if they hoped to make this a game. Colorado did that early on taking advantage of a Detroit power play. Sakic skated down the boards and fired off a shot from just inside the goal line that bounced of Osgood, but Andrew Brunette was there to smack home the rebound for his second goal of the game.

Now only down by one, the Avalanche needed to continue their surge forward. Colorado threw everything it had t Osgood, but were unable to get anything past him as the minutes ticked away. Detroit finished off the Avalanche for a 3-0 series lead and putting the Avalanche on the brink of elimination. The Avalanche will now try to do something only the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs and 1975 New York Islanders have down; come back from 3-0.