The Colorado Avalanche are headed back to the Western Conference Final after storming back from a three-goal deficit to defeat the Minnesota Wild 4-3 in overtime Wednesday night at Ball Arena.
Colorado erased a rough opening period in Game 5, where Minnesota jumped ahead 3-0 less than 16 minutes into the contest after scoring just 34 seconds after puck drop. But the Avalanche steadily clawed their way back, first getting on the board in the second period when Parker Kelly redirected a shot from Brent Burns.
Late in regulation, Jack Drury tipped in a shot from Devon Toews to cut the deficit to one. With time running out, NHL scoring leader Nathan MacKinnon tied the game with 1:23 remaining, beating the goalie from a sharp angle to force overtime. Defenseman Brett Kulak, acquired by Colorado during the season, delivered the winner 3:52 into overtime to complete the dramatic comeback.
The victory sends Colorado to the conference finals for the first time since 2022, the same season the franchise captured the Stanley Cup. It also marked the club’s first time clinching a playoff series on home ice since 2008.
Next up, the Avalanche will face either the Vegas Golden Knights or the Anaheim Ducks, with Vegas currently leading that series 3-2.
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