Nathan MacKinnon, one of Avs heroes, compliments fans after dramatic late goal

The Colorado Avalanche looked dead in Game 5 against the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday night.

Until they weren’t.

The Avs scored two goals in the final 3:33 of the third period to force an improbable overtime. Jack Drury had a beautiful tip-in to make it 3-2 then Nathan MacKinnon was the regulation hero, sniping one past Minnesota goalie Jesper Wallstedt to tie the game 3-3 with 1:27 left.

Ball Arena absolutely exploded as the Avalanche climbed all the way back from a 3-0 first period deficit to force the extra session.

And in OT they got the job done with an unlikely candidate.

It was defenseman Brett Kulak finding the back of the net off a beautiful pass from Martin Necas to call game and call series. The Avalanche won 4-3 and sent the Minnesota Wild home in five games in Round 2.

It’s the first time Colorado has won a series on home-ice in the playoffs since 2008, a stat that’s almost too crazy to believe.

The party was on from the moment Kulak scored as the Avalanche are now headed to the Western Conference Final against either the Ducks or Golden Knights.

AVALANCHE WIN!!!!

THE WILD ARE DONE!!

What a pass from Martin Necas to Kulak. I have chills. One of the best sporting events I’ve ever been to in my life.

WOW 🤯 pic.twitter.com/NtmRLGGYeI

— Will Petersen (@PetersenWill) May 14, 2026

Despite all the good feelings late, and rightfully so, the first period from the Avalanche got off to a poor start and then didn’t get better.

Minnesota dominated from the jump and scored only 34 seconds into the game after an impressive initial shift. Marcus Johansson made it 1-0 Wild before many fans at Ball Arena were even settled into their seats.

Things didn’t improve from there.

Nick Foligno scored twice for Minnesota to make it 3-0 after 20 minutes of play. And the Wild had a another goal taken off the board in between Foligno’s two tallies. It was ruled that Minnesota villain Michael McCarron hit a puck into the net with his hand.

In all Mackenzie Blackwood gave up three goals on 13 shots, two of which he probably should’ve had. The first Foligno goal trickled in and the second came off a bad rebound. A penalty could’ve been called on the Wild, a clear hold on Necas before the third goal, but the refs swallowed their whistles.

Blackwood was yanked for Scott Wedgewood during the first intermission, the second time this series that Avs head coach Jared Bednar made a goalie change. He pulled Wedgewood for Blackwood after three goals in a Game 3 beatdown.

It was a brilliant move by the head coach as Wedgewood made a perfect seven saves the rest of the way. He entered when it was 3-0 after the first period and skated off the ice a 4-3 winner in overtime with the rest of his teammates.

In the second period, the Avalanche finally woke up. They controlled the frame from start to finish, but only got one goal.

It was a big one, slicing the deficit from 3-0 to 3-1 off a beautiful tip-in from Parker Kelly. Brent Burns fired the puck from the point and Kelly guided it past Minnesota’s Jesper Wallstedt. It finally gave Avs faithful something to cheer about. 

A DEFLECTION FROM PARKER KELLY GETS THE AVS ON THE BOARD!!! 🚨 #StanleyCup

🇺🇸: @NHL_On_TNT
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet & @TVASports pic.twitter.com/99pxkBpiQh

— NHL (@NHL) May 14, 2026

A late power play for Colorado felt like a prime chance to make it 3-2 entering the second intermission, but alas they couldn’t solve Wallstedt at that time. Necas almost scored on a great backhand effort, but Wallstedt held his ground. It was 3-1 Wild going to the third.

But that’s when everything changed, with Drury, MacKinnon and Kulak the heroes in an epic comeback.

After the game MacKinnon was very complimentary of the atmosphere and fans, saying he noticed the huge pop from the crowd when he made it 3-3 late in the third.

Asked Nathan MacKinnon about his goal to make it 3-3 and he said he’s definitely aware of the fans and the juice they added to the building.

Keep it going, Avalanche faithful 👏 pic.twitter.com/2P16wPfwn4

— Will Petersen (@PetersenWill) May 14, 2026

“I could definitely feel it, hear it. That was cool. Really cool,” MacKinnon said. “The fans have been amazing all playoffs.”

He went on to talk about how after the Drury goal all 18,000-plus in the building stayed locked in before he eventually tied the game. It’s a moment that folks will watch over and over again, re-living the magic in erasing a three-goal hole.

Now, the Avalanche will get some time off while the other series in the West with Vegas and Anaheim finishes up. Although, it might not be long, the Golden Knights have a 3-2 series lead with Game 6 on Thursday.

Tthe NHL could start the Western Conference Final late this weekend or early next week. No schedule was immediately available with uncertainty in the other matchup.

Regardless, this was an epic rally.

Down 3-0, it certainly looked the series would head back to St. Paul for another game. But in one of the best comebacks you’ll ever see, the Avalanche are now eight wins from the Stanley Cup.

And if they get it done, MacKinnon will be an absolutely huge reason why, the current favorite for the Conn Smythe Trophy.

The fans will have a role as well, something the best player on the planet acknowledged after one of the biggest goals of his career.

The win is amazing — and that fact is pretty cool as well.

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