- Brett Kulak scored at 3:52 of overtime to send Colorado to the Western Conference Final
- The Avalanche trailed 3-0 after one period before storming back with four unanswered goals
- Read below for the video, Kulak’s reaction, and how the Avs sent the Wild packing
The Colorado Avalanche were dead. Down 3-0 after one period of an elimination game, with Mackenzie Blackwood pulled and Ball Arena going quiet.
Then Brett Kulak happened.
Kulak ripped a one-timer past Jesper Wallstedt at 3:52 of overtime Wednesday to cap a four-goal Avalanche comeback, sending Colorado past the Minnesota Wild 4-3 in Game 5 and into the Western Conference Final.
Watch the series ender:
Martin Necas wheeled behind the net and slid a crossing pass to the right dot. Kulak drilled it short side past a sprawling Wallstedt.
The veteran defenseman scored just one goal during the entire regular season, way back on January 19 while he was still in Pittsburgh. His chaotic three-team season finally paid off in the biggest possible way.
He admitted the moment caught even him off guard:
“I’m not the guy everyone’s looking down the bench like, ‘alright, get out there and go win it for us,’” Kulak said.
That was supposed to be Nathan MacKinnon’s job. And MacKinnon had already done his.
With Scott Wedgewood pulled for the extra attacker, MacKinnon went top shelf short side over Wallstedt’s shoulder with 1:23 left in the third to tie it 3-3. Per the NHL Public Relations department, it is the latest tying goal in a potential series-clinching game in Avalanche history.
Check out the snipe:
Minnesota had this game in hand for two periods. Marcus Johansson scored 34 seconds in. Nick Foligno added two more before the first horn.
Blackwood got the hook after surrendering three goals on 13 shots, replaced by Wedgewood, who stopped all seven shots he faced.
Parker Kelly tipped a Brent Burns point shot to make it 3-1 in the second. Jack Drury redirected a Devon Toews blast at 16:27 of the third to cut it to 3-2. The rest is now Avalanche playoff lore.
MacKinnon talked about how the room has grown over the past 12 months:
“I think losing the way we did last season … it can kind of bring your team a little closer,” MacKinnon said.
The Stars bounced Colorado in seven games during last year’s first round.
Here’s the full game video:
Colorado, the Presidents’ Trophy winner and No. 1 seed in the West, won the series 4-1. The Avs face the Vegas-Anaheim winner in the Western Conference Final. Vegas leads that series 3-2, with Game 6 in Anaheim on Thursday.
