Avalanche eliminate Wild in Game 5

The Colorado Avalanche advanced to the Western Conference Final on Wednesday after beating the Minnesota Wild 4-3 in overtime in Game 5 at Ball Arena in Denver. Brett Kulak scored at 3:52 of overtime to finish a comeback from a 3-0 first-period deficit and end Minnesota’s season. Nathan MacKinnon forced overtime with the tying goal at 18:37 of the third period. (nhl.com) Colorado now moves on to await the winner of the Vegas Golden Knights-Anaheim Ducks series. Minnesota had the game under control early. NHL.com’s recap said the Wild built a three-goal lead in the first period before Colorado changed goaltenders and pushed the game back in its favor over the final 40 minutes and overtime. Jesper Wallstedt started in net for Minnesota and was beaten late by MacKinnon before Kulak ended it in overtime. ### How did Colorado finish the comeback? Brett Kulak delivered the winner 3:52 into overtime on a one-timer off a crossing pass from Martin Necas, according to NHL.com. (nhl.com) The goal completed a four-goal Colorado rally after the Avalanche trailed 3-0 in the opening period. Nathan MacKinnon tied the score with 1:23 left in regulation after Colorado pulled Scott Wedgewood for an extra attacker. NHL.com said MacKinnon’s wrist shot from below the left dot beat Wallstedt short side and sent the game to overtime. (nhl.com) ### Who else figured in the deciding game? Parker Kelly scored a goal and added an assist for Colorado, while Martin Necas and Brent Burns each had two assists, NHL.com reported. Gabriel Landeskog praised Kulak afterward, saying the defenseman “makes so many plays” and “defends hard.” (nhl.com) Nick Foligno scored twice for Minnesota in the loss, according to NHL.com’s game recap. Wallstedt said MacKinnon’s tying shot was one “that one definitely hurts a lot,” while Wild coach John Hynes called it “a heck of a shot by an unbelievable player.” (nhl.com) ### Why did Colorado change goalies after the first period? Mackenzie Blackwood allowed three goals on 13 shots in the first period before Colorado coach Jared Bednar turned to Scott Wedgewood for the second, NHL.com reported. (nhl.com) Bednar said after the game that in the regular season he would have left Blackwood in, but the playoff situation called for a different move. Jared Bednar also said the message at intermission was to simplify the game after Colorado had been “losing all over the ice, in every aspect.” Wedgewood then helped stabilize the game as the Avalanche worked back into it. (nhl.com) ### What does the result mean for Minnesota? Minnesota’s defeat ended its run in the Western Conference Second Round on Wednesday night. The Wild had pushed the series back home with a Game 3 win but could not recover after Colorado took Game 4 and then closed the series in five games. (nhl.com) John Hynes and Wallstedt both pointed after the game to the late tying goal as the decisive blow. The Wild had protected key areas in front, Hynes said, but MacKinnon still found the opening. (nhl.com) ### Who will Colorado play next? Colorado will face either the Vegas Golden Knights or the Anaheim Ducks in the Western Conference Final, NHL.com said. Vegas leads that series 3-2, with Game 6 scheduled for Thursday at Honda Center in Anaheim at 9:30 p.m. (hockey-reference.com) ET. Brett Kulak said after the game that Colorado could now “get some rest and turn our attention” to the next series. The Avalanche’s next opponent will be set once the Golden Knights-Ducks series is decided. (nhl.com)