Frank Franklin Ii / AP

Minnesota goalie Niklas Backstrom is out of position as the New York Rangers' Nikolai Zherdev attempts to score on Tuesday. Zherdev had a goal and assist in the Rangers' 2-1 win.

Avery got tangled with Cal Clutterbuck in front of the Wild net and dropped the gloves with his Minnesota counterpart. Both players removed their helmets, with Avery dramatically spinning his onto the ice, before they engaged in punches.

It was Avery’s first fight since rejoining the Rangers earlier this month.

Rangers enforcer Colton Orr took on 37-year-old forward Owen Nolan soon after, following a big collision in open ice. Nolan seemed reluctant at first to take on the heavyweight, and Orr was given an extra penalty for roughing. Minnesota’s power play was wiped out 22 seconds later when Antti Miettinen went off for interference.

That set up 4-on-4 play, leading to Zherdev’s goal that was a product of patience.

Zherdev’s shot was stopped by Backstrom, but Zherdev gained the rebound near the left post. Backstrom was down on his right side as Zherdev waited with the puck on his stick. As Backstrom waved his gloved hand in the air, trying to provide a miniature golf-like impediment, Zherdev calmly waited for an opening and found a small one under the goalie’s arm with 4.4 seconds left in the first.

“You lose your patience against a Minnesota team, and the way they play, and you allow them to transition, that’s when they get you,” Rangers coach John Tortorella said. “We played a little bit of their game. We know they have injuries and they tried to grind one out.

“They played well, but we didn’t blow ourselves up in trying to do too much in that neutral zone.”

Notes: Nolan, in his 17th NHL season, wore the captain’s ’C’ in Koivu’s absence. LW Peter Olvecky took Koivu’s place in the lineup and earned an assist. ... Rangers D Mike Sauer made his NHL debut, filling in for D Michal Rozsival, who is expected to miss seven to 10 days due to an injured left leg.

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