What caused the Avalanche to eliminate the Wild?

Avalanche erase a 3–0 deficit, win Game 5 OT

The Colorado Avalanche completed a dramatic series-closing comeback against the Minnesota Wild, erasing a 3-0 deficit and ultimately winning Game 5 in overtime to advance to the Western Conference Final.

The turnaround is the core of the story: Colorado fell behind early enough to appear out of the match, but then flipped the game. Brett Kulak delivered the decisive moment, scoring 3:52 into overtime to send the Avalanche through.

The game’s swing also included a major late momentum shift after Minnesota’s early advantage. Colorado tied things up through its offensive surge, then pushed far enough that overtime became necessary rather than ending in regulation.

Why the comeback matters

• Elimination in the final frame: Minnesota’s season ended with the Avalanche breaking through in overtime, a direct “win or go home” conclusion.
• Series statement: Coming back from 3-0 not only wins one game; it changes how both teams’ postseason identities are viewed.
• Next-round implications: Advancing to the Western Conference Final puts Colorado in position for a higher-stakes matchup immediately after a physically and emotionally exhausting comeback.

The overtime winner capped a night where Colorado’s ability to keep responding—after being in a deep hole—became the difference-maker. With Kulak’s goal, the Avalanche’s late-game execution finally turned the Wild’s lead into a memory and secured the next series trip.