'Dirty Player,' Avs' Manson Ripped by Wild's McCarron After Getting Hit by Stick in the Face

Minnesota Wild forward Michael McCarron had some choice words regarding Colorado Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson following Game 4 of their second-round NHL playoff series on Monday night.

In the midst of a scrum during the first period, Manson hit McCarron in the face with the butt-end of his stick, resulting in a double-minor penalty.

Speaking to reporters after Colorado won 5-2 to take a 3-1 series lead, McCarron said of Manson, "He's a dirty player. He's always been. Not very well-respected."

The incident in question occurred when McCarron laid a big hit on Manson, and Manson pulled him down to the ice in the process. As they tussled, Manson caught McCarron in the face with his stick.

McCarron questioned why it was a double-minor rather than a five-minute major penalty, saying, "I blew him up, and he grabbed me and pulls me on top of him. He took his butt end and clearly butt-ended me in the face. I don't know how it's not a five-minute. I think the rulebook says it's a five-minute if you butt-end someone in the face."

The Wild cashed in on the ensuing power play when Danila Yurov scored to give Minnesota a 1-0 lead, but the advantage wouldn't hold.

Colorado tied it in the second period and took the lead early in the third. Minnesota tied the game back up just over nine minutes into the third period, but the Avs scored the next three goals, including two empty-netters, to seal the win.

Avalanche-Wild Highlights

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Manson, who had missed Colorado's previous five games due to an upper-body injury, insisted that the butt-end to McCarron's face was accidental, saying, "My intention wasn't to butt-end him. Did I want to punch him in the head? I did want to punch him in the head."

Regardless, the Avalanche regrouped and scored a convincing victory in Game 4, bringing them within one win from the Western Conference Finals.

Colorado has essentially been the best team in the NHL all season long, and that has carried over to the playoffs, as the Avs are 7-1 over the first two rounds thus far.

If the Avalanche are able to close out the Wild in one of the next three games, they will face the winner of the Vegas Golden Knights vs. Anaheim Ducks series in the Western Conference Finals for a spot in the Stanley Cup Final.