Wild vs. Avalanche Game 5: Colorado advances to West final on Brett Kulak's OT winner

AtlanticBruinsCanadiensLightningMaple LeafsPanthersRed WingsSabresSenatorsMetropolitanBlue JacketsCapitalsDevilsFlyersHurricanesIslandersPenguinsRangersCentralAvalancheBlackhawksBluesJetsMammothPredatorsStarsWildPacificCanucksDucksFlamesGolden KnightsKingsKrakenOilersSharksScores & ScheduleStandingsPodcastsFantasyNHL OddsNHL PicksNHL mock draftUFA big boardPlayoff bracketRed Light NewsletterStanley Cup The Avalanche celebrate Parker Kelly's second-period goal on Wednesday. Isaiah J. Downing / Getty Images Share article118DENVER — The Minnesota Wild tried to play a 40-minute penalty kill on Wednesday night to extend their second-round series against the Colorado Avalanche to Game 6. That’s not a good strategy, especially when your penalty kill is historically bad. After building a 3-0 first-period lead, the Wild sat back for two periods, and, imagine this, it didn’t work against the NHL’s best team during the regular season and most lethal offensive attack. The Avalanche stormed back with a Parker Kelly second-period goal, then goals by Jack Drury with 3:33 left and Nathan MacKinnon with an extra attacker on with 1:23 left to force overtime. Then Brett Kulak scored 3:52 into OT to catapult the Avs into the Western Conference final against either the Vegas Golden Knights or Anaheim Ducks — and end the Wild’s season heartbreakingly. The goal came directly after Kirill Kaprizov, who had no shots in the game, couldn’t connect with Matt Boldy on a two-on-one. It’s the first time the Wild have ever blown a three-goal lead to lose a playoff game and the fourth time Colorado has come back from three goals down to win a playoff game. Colorado closed out a series at home for the first time since 2008. Even with their foot off the gas, the Wild were defending well in the third and still had a two-goal lead late. Ryan Hartman’s careless icing after Nick Foligno blocked a shot with 3:42 left flipped the script. It led to a defensive-zone draw late in the third period. Drury beat Hartman on the ensuing faceoff, and nine seconds later, the deficit was one. MacKinnon then extended his goal streak to six games by finding the tiniest of holes inside the post to beat Jesper Wallstedt, who had been solid up to that goal. For the Wild, Nico Sturm assisted on each of Nick Foligno’s first-period goals as the veteran put up his second career two-goal playoff game. Quinn Hughes, who was already the first defenseman in NHL history to record at least 10 assists in his first three postseasons, picked up his 15th point of the playoffs. He became the second-fastest American defenseman in NHL history to 15 points in a postseason behind Brian Leetch (nine games in 1994). His 11 assists this postseason are a new Wild record. MacKenzie Blackwood waited four long weeks to get the Avalanche net back. It took just a few days for him to lose it. Blackwood, who came on in relief of Scott Wedgewood midway through Game 3, then won Game 4 with a solid effort, was back on the bench at the start of the second period of Game 5, having given up three goals on 13 shots. He looked uncomfortable from the start, with the Wild testing him three times in the first shift of the game and Johansson beating him clean from the slot 34 seconds in. Blackwood was actually beaten four times in the period, but Michael McCarron’s goal was overturned after the situation room determined he batted it in with his hand. Wedgewood was perfect in his return to the net, though he wasn’t tested often, saving all seven shots he faced The Avalanche’s journeyman goalie duo won the Jennings Trophy this season, allowing the fewest goals in the league, but this is uncharted territory for both. Wedgewood took the No. 1 job with a stellar .921 save percentage in the regular season, but he has now played in 53 games this season, including the postseason. He had never appeared in more than 32 in his decade-long NHL career. — Lazerus MacKinnon was the reason the game got to overtime, and he was also a big reason the Avalanche were even in the game to begin with. Frustrated by repeated rushes being disrupted by the Wild’s quick sticks, a scowling MacKinnon dragged his team back into the fight during the period. MacKinnon had five shots on goal and eight attempts in the second alone, helping tilt the ice in Colorado’s favor. The Avalanche out-attempted Minnesota 32-8 in the second, though only eight of those shots were on goal. According to NHL analyst Mike Kelly, the Avalanche had a 9-0 edge in high-danger chances and 15-2 edge in slot-driving plays to go with a 4-0 edge in chances off turnovers. The Wild, meanwhile, spent the second just trying to loft the puck into the neutral zone to catch a change and a breather. But Minnesota routinely broke up Avalanche passes and shot attempts with quick sticks and savvy plays. Kirill Kaprizov blocked two shots in a row and gritted through the pain, and Johansson managed to skate stride-for-stride with Makar as he wheeled around behind the Wild net without resorting to a stick foul or a holding penalty. That, combined with Wallstedt’s stout play, was enough to preserve the Minnesota lead in the face of the Avalanche push — temporarily, as it turned out. MacKinnon, it seems, is inevitable. — Lazerus Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms