- The Avalanche trailed 3-0 after the first period of a potential clinching game and came all the way back
- Jared Bednar pulled Mackenzie Blackwood after the first and simplified his message at intermission
- Keep reading for how the Avs found their belief and the video of the full comeback
Down 3-0 after 20 minutes in a game they could close out the series. Ball Arena going quiet. Mackenzie Blackwood pulled.
That’s where the Colorado Avalanche were Wednesday night. And somehow, it didn’t matter.
Four unanswered goals later, Brett Kulak’s overtime winner sent the Avs to the Western Conference Final for the first time since 2022. Colorado will face either Vegas or Anaheim, with the Golden Knights holding a 3-2 series lead heading into Game 6 Thursday.
Watch the full comeback unfold:
The goalie switch was the first move. Bednar swapped Blackwood for Scott Wedgewood to start the second, and explained afterward it wasn’t about blame.
“A regular-season game, I would’ve left Blackwood in there because he was no different than the rest of our team. We just weren’t good enough. But you’re looking for a spark.”
The spark worked. Wedgewood didn’t face a single shot in overtime and made just seven saves over nearly 44 minutes of relief. Colorado outshot Minnesota 34-20 overall.
Bednar said his intermission message wasn’t anything revolutionary. Just simplification.
“What’s the starting point here, because we were losing all over the ice, in every aspect. So just trying to break it down. Where do we start? What do we have to concentrate on first?”
Parker Kelly got them on the board midway through the second. Then Jack Drury made it 3-2 with 3:33 left in regulation, and Gabriel Landeskog felt the tide turn for good.
“At that point, when Jack scored to make it 3-2, we knew we were kind of knocking on the door.”
Nathan MacKinnon kicked it in 2:10 later, tying the game with 1:23 remaining on a shot that found a few inches of daylight over Jesper Wallstedt’s shoulder. Then Kulak ended it in OT:
Martin Necas, who set Kulak up with the pass, summed up the vibe in the room after.
“Just the belief. We just find ways to claw back. If they’re going to play a little bit more puck management, time management, we’re going to get chances.”
Colorado will get some rest before the conference finals. They’ll need it. Cale Makar looked banged up, and Artturi Lehkonen and Sam Malinski have missed the last two games with upper-body injuries.
But the Avs are four wins from the Stanley Cup Final. Bednar reminded everyone they’re only halfway through the postseason.
Halfway, and already pulling off one of the best comebacks in franchise history to get there.
