The Fall of St. Paul

Avs pull off comeback to win series in five

Just over four minutes into the second period, Gabe Landeskog pushed his team’s lead to 3-0. Holding a 3-1 series lead and Game 5 at home, it felt like after several years of early postseason exits that the Colorado Avalanche would finally return to the Western Conference Final.

Only, no one told the St. Louis Blues to roll over. They fought back to tie the game at 3-3 and, after an incredible and memorable Nathan MacKinnon goal pushed the home team ahead, St. Louis tied it again in the final minute before winning in overtime, 5-4.

Game 5 of the second round against the Blues was the only major blemish on the Avalanche’s incredible postseason run that spring od 2022, one that ultimately culminated in a Stanley Cup.

Those same vibes were in Ball Arena on Wednesday night. But this time, it was the Wild jumping out to a 3-0 lead only to lose in overtime. The Avalanche flipped the script from that May 25, 2022 game and did what should have been done that night: close out a divisional opponent at home in Game 5.

The Wild came out roaring Wednesday night, doing anything and everything to salvage one of the best seasons in franchise history and at least push the series back to Minnesota for Game 6.

Early on, it looked like they would.