What a Tuesday night for the state of Minnesota. Their Timberwolves handed the defending world champion Los Angeles Lakers one of the worst playoff losses of all-time to even their NBA best-of-seven series at a game apiece. Then, a short time later, the Minnesota Wild came from behind to upset the Colorado Avalanche in Game 7 of their first-round NHL playoff series.

Break out the party hats and get some of those noisy blow-things — it’s time to celebrate!

Now, I’ll admit, I’m not much for NHL hockey. Scoring is sparse, the players’ last names are often impossible to pronounce and the drama is often as vacant as the Montreal Expos’ stadium.

But when I flipped past ESPN late Tuesday night as the third period wound down in the Wild-Avalanche game, it interested me in hockey for the first time since “D3: The Mighty Ducks” came to theaters. The Colorado fans were on their feet — literally going nuts — hoping that one of their Avs would pop one in the goal and break the 2-2 tie before the horn sounded. The sportscaster who was calling the game for ESPN had this excitement in his voice, like something big was about to happen.

Besides the horn sounding to indicate the end of regulation, nothing big happened.

I could have flipped the channel right then and there.

But I had to watch overtime. That has to be exciting, I thought. It’s sudden death for crying out loud! Every hockey game should start in overtime — first one to score wins.

I needed some release from the stress that late April brings to a college student.

I needed to see history unfold in the sporting world.

Well, I would have if I hadn’t inadvertently switched channels and missed Andrew Brunette flip the puck past Patrick Roy and into the net. That one probably would have got my juices going just a little.

Damn tricky remotes.

I did see the replay. I did see Brunette high-knee drill in hockey skates. I did smile just a little bit.

There was the drama I was looking for. It’s the drama that’s gone from all the games that end with more than a one-goal spread, because really, what team is going to come back from a four-goal deficit in the last five minutes of the third period?

Disney’s Mighty Ducks might have. Not many NHL teams would do it even once in 100 tries.

Even though the Wild came back from a 3-1 deficit to win their playoff series — becoming just the 17th team ever to do it — and did it on the road, they had to share the spotlight with the Timberwolves.

Facing a Los Angeles team that seems to have taken the fifth seed just because they were bored with all the other challenges the NBA playoffs include, the fourth-seeded Timberwolves were underdogs.

Behind 35 points, 20 rebounds and seven assists from my MVP Kevin Garnett, the Wolves routed L.A. 119-91.

Troy Hudson, who had been receiving heat as the team’s point guard, poured in 37 points to help the Minnesota cause and his trey just before the half — over Shaquille O’Neal mind you — was just the ticket for Laker-haters everywhere.

This Minnesota win came after the Lakers had trounced them by 19 in Game 1. And it came after Minnesota had been eliminated in the first round of the playoffs the last six years. They may still get bounced out if the Lakers can get their act together, but Tuesday night was Minnesota’s.

After evening the series, the Timberwolves now have a chance. The fact that the first round of the playoffs has been extended from five games to seven this season may work in the Timberwolves’ favor. It’s already assured that they will play more playoff games this season than any other season before.

So, the ultimate question is which win was bigger for sports fans in Minnesota? The Wild won their playoff series with the victory, in only their third year in existence, but my vote goes to the Timberwolves.

Hey, what do you expect from a guy who can’t ice skate worth a hoot?