Well, the stage was set for the Colorado Avalanche to seal the series in front of fans on home ice tonight against the Minnesota Wild. Doing so would mark the first time they’ve achieved that since 2008.
It seems the Wild had other plans as they scored 3o seconds into the game, cashed in on two more first-period tallies.
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MacKenzie Blackwood got the start but didn’t make it to the second period, with Scott Wedgewood not allowing a goal once he did enter the game.
It was a tough start, but the Avalanche decided they didn’t want to write the same old story and flipped the script, roaring back in the second and third period and inevitably sealing the series and game in overtime on Brett Kulak’s game-winner!
The Game
When I say things couldn’t have started worse for the Avalanche, that’s not being dramatic.
There was a drastic contrast between Colorado’s focus and Minnesota’s, with the Wild seemingly coming to play and the Avalanche struggling to wake up.
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36 seconds into the game, Brett Kulak and Brent Burns marked the same player, and Ross Colton got caught watching as Marcus Johansson was left alone in the high slot and beat Blackwood glove side.
Just like that, it was 1-0 Wild, but the disaster wasn’t done unfolding.
Next, it would be Nick Foligno who first tipped one in and on through Blackwood as Brett Kulak was unable to cover a breaking Foligno, and the puck trickled through Blackwood’s five-hole.
It would be Nick Foligno yet again, just about four minutes later, this time on a play where Nico Sturm broke in, cleared a shot that likely should have been iced by Blackwood.
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Instead, a rebound popped right back to Sturm, who beat Ahcan to the loose puck, found Foligno, who tucked it in. We would end the first frame 3-0 Minnesota Wild.
The Avalanche would dominate possession and chances in the second frame, showing some life.
The puck was pinned in the corner, but finally squeaked clear of the scrum. Kulak retrieved and sent a cross-ice pass over to Burns, who put it on net. Parker would cash in via the re-direct, bringing the score to 3-1 Wild.
The tide had shifted by the time the third period rolled around, but without another goal until well into the period, this one felt pretty much over.
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That is, until Jack Drury scored on the re-direct with 3 and a half minutes left, re-igniting Ball Arena and Colorado’s chances at walking away victorious.
The Avalanche would get possession in the offensive end, pull Wedgewood, and go at it 6-on-5.
After a couple of attempts and some retrievals, Nathan MacKinnon was alone in his usual power play spot down near the goal line.
This time, instead of looking for the bumper, he picked the corner right by Wallstedt’s ear and in.
Ball Arena erupted, and we’d head to overtime in game five.
The Wild had a couple of grade-A looks that didn’t materialize, and it was clear that the Wild were gassed early in the extra frame.
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Parker Kelly would send a beautiful stretch pass that found Martin Necas cruising into the zone. He wrapped around the net, looked in a dangerous shooting position, but instead passed to Brent Kulak, who had nothing but net in front of him.
He absolutely buried it, and the crowd once again went, dare I say… Wild.
Takeaways
Cale Makar was noticeably hobbled throughout the game, clutching at his right arm and shying away from shots and contact. The Avalanche did well to close out this series tonight so that Makar and others can begin healing in anticipation of the conference final.
Let the story of Brett Kulak inside this game be a lesson to all of us. You might start with some absolute duds, but if you stick to it and do the right things afterward, the puck might find your stick for the game-winner in overtime.
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Before the season started, most Avs fans had said cup or bust, but reaching the conference final and getting beyond the second round has been difficult. Another dragon slayed.
One last takeaway: the sort of win that lives on forever if the Avalanche can continue their successful pursuit of the Stanley Cup.
Upcoming
We await the winner of the Anaheim Ducks and Vegas Golden Knights, who are set to play game six tomorrow at 7:30 MT, with Vegas leading the series 3-2.
Let us know what you thought of this contest in the comments!
