Avalanche’s Brett Kulak with mind-numbing OT winner sends Wild home

The Colorado Avalanche had the chance to eliminate the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday night. However, they came out rather slowly to begin this game. Colorado was not great during the first two periods. They eventually found their game, though, and they are on to the Western Conference Finals.

Nathan MacKinnon scored a huge goal to tie the game with less than two minutes remaining. This goal helped force overtime, where defenseman Brett Kulak ended it. His goal — which was his first since joining Colorado — gave the Avalanche a 4-3 win and the series victory in one fell swoop.

Kulak has had a whirlwind season. He is the first player to skate in 25 games for three different teams and made a conference final, according to the TNT broadcast. He starte with the Edmonton Oilers, was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins, and eventually was traded again to the Avalanche.

As mentioned, Colorado was a bit disconnected early in the game. The Avalanche met a Wild team that came to play with everything they had. Their season was on the line, and they played as if it could be their last this season.

Veteran Nick Foligno was a thorn in Colorado’s side in the first. He scored twice as the Wild took a 3-0 lead into the first intermission. But Parker Kelly scored in the second period to give Colorado some life.

In the third, the Avalanche pushed for their goals, but nothing went their way. That is until a Jack Drury deflection went through Jesper Wallstedt’s five-hole to make it a 3-2 game. About two minutes later, MacKinnon scored to tie the game and force overtime. The rest, as they say, was history.

The Avalanche are on to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2022. However, they do not know who they will face at this time. Colorado will take on either the Vegas Golden Knights or the Anaheim Ducks.

Vegas has a 3-2 series lead and can eliminate the Ducks on Thursday night.

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