Colorado advances to Western Conference final

The Colorado Avalanche reached the Western Conference final on May 13 with a 4-3 overtime win over the Minnesota Wild in Game 5 at Ball Arena in Denver. Brett Kulak scored 3:52 into overtime, and Nathan MacKinnon tied the game with 1:23 left in regulation as Colorado erased a 3-0 deficit. The victory gave the Avalanche a 4-1 series win and sent them to the conference final for the first time since 2022. The NHL said on May 14 that Colorado will open the next round at home on Wednesday, May 20, against either the Vegas Golden Knights or the Anaheim Ducks. ### How did Colorado close out the series? Minnesota led 3-0 midway through the second period on goals from Marcus Johansson and two from Nick Foligno before Colorado rallied. Valeri Nichushkin and Artturi Lehkonen scored in the second period, MacKinnon tied it late in the third, and Kulak ended the game in overtime. Game 5 ended a series in which Colorado won four of five games against a division rival. (nhl.com) NHL.com said the Avalanche defeated the Wild in five games to advance, and the Associated Press reported that Colorado moved on to the conference final for the eighth time since the franchise relocated to Denver in 1995-96. ### Why was Kulak’s goal such a notable finish? (nhl.com) Kulak had not scored since January before his overtime winner, according to the Associated Press game report. His goal completed Colorado’s comeback after the Avalanche trailed by three goals in the first period and sent Ball Arena into celebration. (nhl.com) Scott Wedgewood was another key figure in the finish. The Associated Press reported that Mackenzie Blackwood started in goal for Colorado but was pulled after allowing three first-period goals, with Wedgewood coming on in relief and getting the win. ### Who can the Avalanche face next? Colorado will play either Vegas or Anaheim in the Western Conference final, the NHL said on May 14. (clickorlando.com) The league’s playoff look-ahead said the Avalanche were waiting on the winner of that second-round series after eliminating Minnesota. Vegas entered Game 6 against Anaheim with a 3-2 series lead. (newsday.com) NHL.com’s preview for May 14 said the Golden Knights could clinch another Western Conference final berth with a win at Honda Center in Anaheim. ### When does the Western Conference final start? The NHL’s conference-final schedule scenarios, released May 14, said the Western Conference final will begin Wednesday, May 20, in Denver regardless of whether Colorado faces Vegas or Anaheim. (nhl.com) A Colorado team site post also said the league had announced the complete schedule for the series. The league schedule page showed no NHL games on Friday, May 15, and listed a potential Vegas-Anaheim Game 7 for Saturday, May 16, if Anaheim extends the series. (nhl.com) That leaves Colorado with at least six full days between its series-clinching win and Game 1 of the conference final. ### What does Colorado carry into the next round? Colorado entered the conference final with an 8-1 playoff record, according to the Coloradoan’s May 14 schedule update. (nhl.com) The same report said the Avalanche secured the Presidents’ Trophy in the regular season and would have home ice in the Western Conference final. (nhl.com) Game 1 of the Western Conference final is scheduled for May 20 in Denver, and Colorado’s opponent will be settled by the outcome of the Vegas Golden Knights-Anaheim Ducks series. (nhl.com) (coloradoan.com)