The Minnesota Wild were eliminated from the Western Conference semifinals after the Colorado Avalanche rallied for a 4-3 overtime victory in Game 5, the report says. Brett Kulak’s overtime goal capped a four-goal Avalanche comeback that erased Minnesota’s three-goal first-period advantage and sent the Wild to the offseason.
The Wild built their early margin on two goals from trade-deadline acquisition Nick Foligno and a score by Marcus Johansson 34 seconds into the game, the report says. Despite the 3-0 lead, Minnesota’s first-period shot-share was only 47.2% — according to Natural Stat Trick’s metrics — and Avalanche coach Jared Bednar removed Mackenzie Blackwood after three goals on 13 shots, per the report.
Scott Wedgewood relieved Blackwood to start the second period and faced just seven shots over the 43:09 he was on the ice, the report says. Colorado controlled possession for much of the remainder of the game, posting a 78.38% shot-share in the second period and a 67.57% shot-share in the third during 5-on-5 play, the report says. The Avalanche carried that dominance into overtime, where they posted an 80% shot-share and finished the game with a 67.5% 5-on-5 shot-share.
Colorado’s comeback unfolded late. Kelly scored the Avs’ first goal with nine minutes left in the second, Jack Drury cut the deficit to 3-2 with 3:33 remaining in the third, and Jared Bednar pulled Wedgewood for a 6-on-5. Nathan MacKinnon tied the game with 1:23 left, and Kulak finished it less than four minutes into overtime, the report says.
The loss continued a pattern in the series in which the Wild repeatedly got within reach before losing control, the report says. Minnesota rallied from a large deficit in Game 1 but ultimately fell in a high-scoring affair, took five penalties in Game 2 and lost, handed Colorado its first playoff loss in Game 3, then allowed three straight in Game 4. The report notes the Wild are now 2-8 in their past 10 elimination games.
Players and coaches expressed the sting of the defeat. Wild forward Mats Zuccarello said, “I think everyone feels empty right now,” and added, “It’s hard to explain after a game like that.” Coach John Hynes said both teams “put a real competitive effort on the ice,” and defenseman Quinn Hughes called the loss, “This one stings,” per the report.
