Brett Kulak’s OT winner completes crazy comeback, lifts Avalanche into Western Conference final

DENVER — Brett Kulak scored 3:52 into overtime after Nathan MacKinnon tied it late in regulation, and the Avalanche advanced to the Western Conference final with a 4-3 victory over the Wild in Game 5 Wednesday night.

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Kulak capped a wild comeback for the Avalanche, who trailed 3-0 midway through the second period. Colorado moves on to the conference final for an eighth time since relocating to Denver in 1995-96.

The Avalanche will face the winner of Vegas and Anaheim. The Golden Knights lead that series, 3-2.

With Minnesota up 3-1, Jack Drury scored with 3:33 remaining to set the stage for MacKinnon’s goal with 1:23 left with the Colorado goal empty. The star forward sent a shot from the left side past Jesper Wallstedt and into a small space in the top left corner.

In overtime, Martin Necas took the puck, glided behind the net and back out front, where he found an open Kulak.

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It was a rare series-ending win at home for Colorado, too. The last time the Avalanche won a series on home ice was 2008 against the Wild, when the team had Hall of Famers Joe Sakic and Peter Forsberg.

Marcus Johansson scored 34 seconds into the game and Nick Foligno added two goals to give the Wild a 3-0 after the first period.

It led Colorado to take out Mackenzie Blackwood after the first and insert Scott Wedgewood, who made seven saves.

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