ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Nathan MacKinnon had been waiting for the puck to go in for him. The Colorado Avalanche center entered his fourth NHL season with plenty of promise, only to score just twice in the seasons first 15 games.The top overall draft pick in 2013 was feeling a bit better Saturday night after scoring the game-winning goal.MacKinnon brought the puck up the center of the ice and used a Wild defenseman to screen his shot, scoring with 10 minutes left to finish off Colorados third-period comeback. He added an assist in the Avalanches 3-2 win at Minnesota.MacKinnon has scored in back-to-back games to rekindle hopes of a big season after he signed a seven-year, $44.1 million contract extension in the offseason.I feel like Ive had a lot of good chances the first 17 games, MacKinnon said. When I went 10 straight without a goal, I felt like, you dont deserve goals, but you feel like youre around the net and it should start going in. It was tough there for a while and its nice to finally see a couple go in, for sure.Calvin Pickard stopped 41 shots in beating the Wild for the second time this season. Hes allowed two goals on 73 shots.If youre sharp, they throw a lot of pucks to the net and both games weve played weve been good at boxing out rebounds and letting me see the puck, Pickard said. We did that again tonight, with big efforts from our D and our forwards helping out down low as well.The Avalanche trailed 2-0 heading into the final period, but goals by Mikko Rantanen and Carl Soderberg just 3 minutes apart tied the game.Devan Dubnyk made 31 saves for Minnesota, but his shutout streak was snapped at 156 minutes, 6 seconds. Charlie Coyle and Tyler Graovac scored for the Wild, who had been 6-0-1 when leading after two periods.We stopped playing, Dubnyk said. I dont know what happened. Thats not like us. Things are going to happen, and they might get one or two, but we just stopped playing in our end. I dont know if we thought it was going to be an easy third with the way the game was going, but we had a pretty good game going and thats a waste of a game.Colorado earned its first victory of the season when trailing after two. The Avalanche were 0-9-0 when entering the second intermission with a deficit.Third periods havent been our friend this season, MacKinnon said. Weve been struggling late in games. For whatever reason, we cant seem to tie it up and get the win. Were going to feed off this. Scoring three goals in the third period is big, after being shut out after two. Beating a goalie like Dubnyk is no easy task.Dubnyk had allowed just nine goals in his previous nine starts.The flurry of goals came in the third, but the teams traded shots in the first. They combined for 41 shots in the period, setting a Minnesota record for one period. The Wild had 21 shots, a franchise mark for the first period.Game notes Minnesota forward Zach Parise was scratched prior to the game with an illness. He had returned to play two games after missing six because of a lower-body injury. ... Colorado C Matt Duchene (concussion) missed his fourth straight game, while F Gabriel Landeskog (lower-body injury) missed his second game in a row. ... The Avalanche were fifth in the NHL in most penalty minutes per game coming in and proceeded to take five minor penalties. The Wild went 1 of 4 on the power play. ... Minnesota started a stretch of three straight games and four of five against Central Division opponents. ... Wild D Marco Scandella (high ankle sprain) returned to practice Friday. Scandella has missed eight games and is eligible to return from long-term injured reserve next week.UP NEXTAvalanche: Colorados three-game road trip ends Monday against the Columbus Blue Jackets.Wild: Minnesota has a one-game trip to Dallas on Monday. 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The Dutchmans tenure got off to a poor start when referee Guido Winkmann awarded a penalty within two minutes for Niklas Starks clumsy challenge on Alexandru Maxim. NFL Nation reporters assess the top storylines to watch for every team on Friday.NFC East | NFC North | NFC South | NFC West AFC East | AFC North| AFC South | AFC WestAFC EASTBuffalo BillsThe Bills will hold a walk-through Friday before hosting the Giants on Saturday. Coach Rex Ryan said Thursday he is thinking about playing wide receiver Sammy Watkins (foot) in the game, but that it would be for only one series, at the most. Ryan added that quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who played one series last week against the Colts, will see more action. -- Mike RodakMiami DolphinsLook for the Dolphins star-studded defensive line of Ndamukong Suh, Mario Williams and Cameron Wake to make its?preseason debut Friday against the Cowboys. Coach Adam Gase sat this trio last week to keep them healthy. But the veterans, who combine for 12 Pro Bowl appearances, need some reps this preseason and will face a test against a stout Dallas offensive line. -- James WalkerNew England PatriotsAfter an eventful Thursday in which quarterback Tom Brady sliced his thumb before the game and didnt play, and defensive tackle Alan Branch was suspended for a violation of team rules, the Patriots will watch film from their preseason game against the Bears. One of the highlights was a solid performance from quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who was 16-of-21 for 181 yards, with one touchdown and no interceptions. -- Mike ReissNew York JetsCoach Todd Bowles has not revealed the quarterback rotation for the Jets second preseason game Friday night at Washington, but all indications are that rookie Christian Hackenberg will see some playing time. The Jets second-round pick was the only one of New Yorks four QBs who did not play in the preseason opener against Jacksonville. Bryce Petty, who is fighting for a roster spot in his second year on team, got the start. At the end of the day, if I can come in here and say I gave it all I got, and it still doesnt work out, then it means theres a better opportunity for me somewhere else, Petty said. -- ESPN.com staffAFC NORTHBaltimore RavensThe return of Steve Smith Sr. is good news for the Ravens, but not-so-good for Kamar Aiken, who is a similar receiver. In the first?eight games last season, Aiken had 25 catches for 333 yards and two touchdowns. In the last eight games when Baltimore was without Smith, Aiken caught 50 passes for 611 yards and three touchdowns. That ranked seventh among receivers over that time. This is something to take note of if you are considering Aiken as a sleeper pick in fantasy football. -- Jamison HensleyCincinnati BengalsThe ugliest moment of the Bengals otherwise ho-hum 30-14 thumping of the Lions on Thursday night came in the first half when offensive tackle Jake Fisher had to be carted into the locker room with an injured lower right leg. It was the latest in a string of health issues for a battered Bengals squad that has already lost a pair of rookies to potentially season-ending injuries. If Fisher is lost for any significant amount of time, it could spell early-season trouble for an offense that already will be missing starting right tackle Cedric Ogbuehi (toe) for the next couple weeks. -- Coley HarveyCleveland BrownsRobert Griffin IIIs two touchdown passes against Atlanta provided two tons of relief. Griffin played very well in the second game, throwing touchdown passes of 50 and 29 yards, and adding runs of 14 and 22 yards. Griffins growth from Game 1 to Game 2 was significant. The next step: Practices against Tampa Bay before the third game against the Bucs. -- Pat McManamonPittsburgh SteelersLet the fireworks begin. James Harrison wont accept his NFL interview over the Al-Jazeera report without verbally sacking commissioner Roger Goodell. Harrison, who proposed to meet with league investigators Aug. 30, said he wants to tape the event for transparency. Going further, when discussing the league dangling potential conduct detrimental to the league disciplines for not cooperating with the NFLs probe into alleged PED use, Harrison said, If it heads to the hands of that crook, I mean Roger Goodell, he can do what he wants. Harrison maintains he has never used PEDs and is interviewing because he wants to play this year, not to make the league happy. -- Jeremy FowlerAFC SOUTHHouston TexansThe Texans enter their second preseason game on Saturday with rookie Kaimi Fairbairn and veteran Nick Novak still battling for the kicking job. Expect the two to get more chances Friday?during the lighter practice against the Saints, and even more during the game. The two did not get many chances for field goals in the preseason opener, and coach Bill OBrien said it is a very close battle. -- Sarah BarshopIndianapolis ColtsColts coach Chuck Pagano may play most of his starters into the middle of the second quarter of Saturdays preseason game against the Ravens. Youd like to keep the unit together as much as possible, but there are some guys that need to play more, Pagano said. The center [Ryan Kelly] needs to play more. Pagano did add that itll be about 90-95 percent of the starters who will get the extended playing time. You can probably assume that the 5-10 percent who wont get extra playing time will include quarterback Andrew Luck and running back Frank Gore. -- Mike WellsJacksonville JaguarsIt looks like left tackle Kelvin Beachum is going to miss his second preseason game. Coach Gus Bradley said he doesnt believe that Beachum, whom the team signed to compete with Luke Joeckel, will play against Tampa Bay on Saturday night. Beachum, however, did get some team snaps with the second-team offense on Thursday in the second day of joint practices with the Bucs. -- Mike DiRoccoTennessee TitansCarolina is a stouter team up front than San Diego and is likely to provide a tougher challenge to the Titans run game. Coach Mike Mularkey said Tennessee may need to hit a couple plays over the top to back off the Panthers. If that is the approach the Titans take Saturday afternoon at Nissan Stadium, it could make for an interesting offensive performance. Quarterback?Marcus Mariotas deep balls are a weak part of his game, but he had a good day throwing them on Wednesday. -- Paul KuharskyAFC WESTDenver BroncosCoach Gary Kubiak keeps dropping hints that hed like to make a decision about the teams starting quarterback in the days before the teams third preseason game, which is Aug. 27 against the Rams. Trevor Siemian will get the start Saturday against the 49ers, and Kubiak said he hoped to get Siemian and Mark Sanchez each about a quarter and a half of work against San Francisco. Sanchez got the start in the preseason opener last week. Asked if he wanted to make the decision before next week, Kubiak said: Would I like to? Yeah. Will I? I dont know. -- Jeff LegwoldKansas City ChiefsThe Chiefs are looking for more production from linebacker Dee Ford in Saturdays preseason game against the Rams. Ford is the Chiefs top pass-rusher as they continue to play without either of their two Pro Bowl outside linebackers, Tamba Hali and Justin Houston. Ford has an excellent first step off the line of scrimmage but hasnt been able to develop any other consistently productive pass-rush moves. Coach Andy Reid acknowledged this week that Fords performance last week was disappointing. Im not going to tell you he had his best game, Reid said. There are plays he wishes he had back. -- Adam TeicherOakland RaidersThe Raiders first-string offense was MIA in Green Bay, gaining just 73 yards of total offense in the first half. How frustrated was former Raiders linebacker-turned-broadcaster Matt Millen in watching the show? When a sleeping baby in Raiders gear was shown on the broadcast Millen said, That looks like our offense. -- Paul GutierrezSan Diego ChargersOne thing to watch for in San Diegos second preseason game against the Cardinals on Friday is the play of receiver Travis Benjamin. Out of training camp while nursing a hamstring injury, Benjamin returned to the field this week and made a handful of plays working against Arizonas top corners in joint practices.?Philip Rivers said its important to develop a good rapport with San Diegos top free-agent addition, so the veteran quarterback might force feed Benjamin some throws against the Cardinals. -- Eric D. WilliamsNFC EASTDallas CowboysLast week Dak Prescott had a near-flawless performance in his preseason debut. What helped the rookie fourth-round pick was playing with four of the Cowboys five starting offensive linemen and Dez Bryant, Terrance Williams and Cole Beasley. When the Cowboys play the Dolphins on Friday night, Prescott will have to manage the game with backups with Tony Romo starting. This might be a better test for Prescott because he will be counted on to do more. With the Cowboys holding off on looking for a veteran backup quarterback, Prescott could cement his spot as Romos No. 2 with a good showing. -- Todd ArcherrNew York GiantsA day before the Giants face the Bills in their second preseason contest of the year, they wont have a day off.dddddddddddd Coach Ben McAdoo will have him team run a 55-minute speed practice before hopping on a plane. Quarterback Eli Manning and Odell Beckham Jr. will make their preseason debuts in?Saturdays game. It could get interesting with there being bad blood between Beckham and Bills cornerback Stephon Gilmore from last years meeting. -- Jordan RaananPhiladelphia EaglesThe defense is riding high after a 17-0 shutout of the Steelers on Thursday night, but that doesnt mean there arent any issues. Rookie linebacker Joe Walker went down with a knee injury that the team fears is significant, according to a report by ESPN NFL Insider Adam Caplan. Linebacker depth is already a concern. If Walkers injury is in fact serious, it seems likely that the Eagles will look to the outside for help. -- Tim McManusWashington RedskinsThe run game will be a huge point of emphasis in the second preseason game Friday vs. the Jets. Washingtons top three backs last week managed no yards on eight carries. What the coaches really want is for starter Matt Jones to get in a better groove. Look for him to get at least seven carries to give him a better chance to at least start to find a rhythm early. But coach Jay Gruden knows it will be tough vs. the Jets. They averaged 2.0 yards against them in a loss last season. We couldnt run the length of my arm against them, Gruden said. Theyre very physical. -- John KeimNFC NORTHChicago BearsThe Bears made their share of mistakes -- i.e. penalties -- in New England, but the team returns home feeling much better about its all-around performance. And with the exception of cornerback Jacoby Glenn, who was evaluated for a concussion, the Bears avoided serious injury. However, Glenns situation is worth monitoring. Glenn started in place of Kyle Fuller, who stayed home in Chicago because of a bothersome knee condition. Already thin at cornerback, the Bears may have to turn to DeVante Bausby or 2016 fourth-round pick Deiondre Hall, in the event Glenn has to miss time. -- Jeff DickersonDetroit LionsQuarterback?Matthew Stafford once again looked crisp when he had time to throw, completing 8 of 11 passes for 113 yards during his three series Thursday night against Cincinnati. It showed that when the pass protection can hold up, Stafford can make smart decisions and has good control of the offense. The question, of course, is whether or not hell get that time. The better news for him than in the preseason opener: He mostly had time to make reads and the right throws against the Bengals, including hitting Marvin Jones deep on a 32-yard reception early. If the Lions are going to be successful this year, figure to see that connection a good amount. -- Michael RothsteinGreen Bay PackersThe Packers may want to take a longer look at Eddie Lacy in the coming days heading into the third preseason game next Friday at San Francisco, but they have to be pleased with what theyve seen so far. Lacy rushed nine times for 45 yards (including a 1-yard touchdown plunge) in Thursdays game against the Raiders. That followed a four-carry, 24-yard performance in his first preseason action last week against the Browns. -- Rob DemovskyMinnesota VikingsThe Vikings didnt put Teddy Bridgewater on the field Thursday night for what the team called a coachs decision during the game. It stands to reason that Bridgewater, who practiced with the first-team offense all week, will get plenty of playing time during the teams third preseason game a week from Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium. Bridgewater was on the sideline in uniform and a baseball cap on Thursday night, and he didnt seem to be injured during the week. The Vikings said coach Mike Zimmer would address the quarterbacks status after the game. -- Ben GoesslingNFC SOUTHAtlanta FalconsThere are two injuries to keep an eye on for the Falcons. The first involved pass-rusher Vic Beasley Jr., the 2015 first-round pick. Beasley missed Thursday nights game with what the team called a minor shoulder strain, but its the same right shoulder Beasley played with a torn labrum in last season. He never had surgery, and the team said he should be ready to face Miami next week. But will this linger? Also, punter Matt Bosher might have been the victim of an illegal hit and suffered a chest injury. Depending on the severity, Bosher could be scrambling for a punter. -- Vaughn McClureCarolina PanthersPro Bowl tight end Greg Olsen (back spasms) continues to be AWOL at practice for the third straight session, but coach Ron Rivera insists its nothing to be concerned about. With a day off on Friday it doesnt appear Olsen will play in Saturdays exhibition at Tennessee. This is something to keep an eye on with backup tight end Ed Dickson also out. Look for Scott Simonson, Beau Sandland and Braxton Deaver to get all the snaps against the Titans. -- David NewtonNew Orleans SaintsFridays practice with the Texans is really just a pregame walk-through before they take the field Saturday night. Its not even open to the media or the public. But you can bet the Saints will be intent on a crisper session after quarterback?Drew Brees said he felt like we were a little sloppy on Thursday. Brees threw a couple interceptions late in practice -- and even had one or two fumbled exchanges with center Max Unger in Thursdays first joint practice. Maybe he was just missing No. 1 wide receiver?Brandin Cooks, who was absent for an undisclosed reason. -- Mike TriplettTampa Bay BuccaneersThe Bucs wrapped up two days of joint practices against?the Jaguars with a much better practice Thursday. Coach Dirk Koetter challenged his team to come out with an edge. They responded with a strong performances in the two-minute drill on offense and defense, with Winston going 5-for-5 passing with a touchdown, and the defense limited quarterback?Blake Bortles to 4-of-10 passing and kept him out of the end zone. Tight end?Austin Seferian-Jenkins had a strong day with three red zone touchdowns. Defensive tackle?Gerald McCoy tweaked his ankle late in practice and did not return. Linebacker?Daryl Smith was held out for the second-consecutive day. Koetter said, Geralds fine and that Smith needed another veterans day. -- Jenna LaineNFC WESTArizona CardinalsThursdays day off?gave the Cardinals an opportunity for coach Bruce Arians to get a full day of rest after his dealing with a diverticulitis flare up on Tuesday, which caused him to spend the night in the hospital. Arians plans on coaching Friday night against the Chargers. The game?will be another opportunity for rookie cornerback Brandon Williams to dig his heels into the right cornerback job. Hell go against one of the NFLs top quarterbacks in Philip Rivers for possibly a quarter. If Williams performs well enough, he could strengthen his grip on the starting job even with Justin Bethel, the incumbent starter, coming off the PUP list this week. -- Josh WeinfussLos Angeles RamsThe Rams spent their Thursday practice largely focusing on their next opponent, the Chiefs. Rams coach Jeff Fisher sees it as a test for his developing offense and for his run defense, a unit?that came up short in the exhibition opener against the Cowboys. I know theyre very, very talented on defense and they can run the football, Fisher said of the Chiefs. Theyre going to put pressure on you. Its answering those challenges, and being able to stand up, protect the quarterback, run the football on offense, again, and were going to be tested defensively against the run. -- Alden GonzalezSan Francisco 49ersThe 49ers finished their practice week with the Broncos on Thursday with a little different look on the offensive line for part of the proceedings. Recently unretired offensive tackle Anthony Davis kicked inside to right guard for a few snaps during Thursdays practice, the first time he has played anywhere but tackle since his freshman year of college. Whether it becomes permanent remains to be seen but the Niners remain committed to trying to find their best five linemen to protect whomever wins the starting quarterback job. -- Nick WagonerSeattle SeahawksWith coach Pete Carroll having opened up the possibility that Jimmy Graham may miss the beginning of the regular season, the two players to watch at tight end are Luke Willson and Nick Vannett. Willson is a dependable fourth-year veteran who has started 24 games in his career. Vannett is a rookie third-round pick. When the Seahawks drafted him, they raved about Vannetts ability as a blocker, and he looked good as a receiver during training camp. 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