Brett Kulak scored 3:52 into overtime and the Colorado Avalanche completed a dramatic Game 5 comeback to eliminate the Minnesota Wild with a 4-3 decision in Denver on Wednesday.
Colorado, which trailed 3-0 midway through the game, advances to the Western Conference finals for the first time since 2021-22. The Avalanche next will face either the Vegas Golden Knights or the Anaheim Ducks.
The Avalanche rallied to tie it with two goals in the final four minutes of the third period, then won it early in the overtime to end the best-of-seven series. Martin Necas, who had two assists, circled the Minnesota net and fed Kulak for a one-timer at the right circle.
Kulak and Parker Kelly had a goal and an assist each for Colorado, Nathan MacKinnon and Jack Drury also scored, and Brent Burns notched two assists. Avalanche goalie Scott Wedgewood made seven saves in relief of Mackenzie Blackwood, who allowed three goals on 13 shots in the first period.
Nick Foligno had two goals, Marcus Johansson also scored, Nico Sturm and Matt Boldy had two assists each and Jesper Wallstedt turned away 30 shots for the Wild.
Both teams were without key players. Joel Eriksson Ek and Jonas Brodin have missed the entire series for Minnesota, and the Wild scratched Zach Bogosian (lower-body injury) for Game 5.
Avalanche forward Artturi Lehkonen and defenseman Sam Malinski were out of the lineup for the second straight game with upper-body injuries.
The hosts managed just four shots on goal for the first half of the third period before peppering Wallstedt late.
Drury made it 3-2 when he tipped a Devon Toews shot past the goalie at 16:27, and Wedgewood came off for an extra skater soon after.
The move paid off when Necas fed MacKinnon down low, and MacKinnon beat Wallstedt with a sharp-angle shot at 18:37 to send the game to overtime.
Minnesota jumped in front after just 34 seconds when Johansson scored. Foligno made it 2-0 at 11:03 of the opening period, and he scored again at 15:56 of the first.
Foligno’s second goal came minutes after Michael McCarron had a tally waved off when it was determined he knocked it in with his glove.
The Avalanche stepped up the pressure in the second period and broke through when Kelly redirected Burns’ shot from the point at 11:00.
