Colorado Avalanche Take Series Lead With OT Win Over Minnesota Wild
Apr 26, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche center
Paul Stastny
(26) celebrates after forward
Nathan MacKinnon
(not pictured) scored the game winning goal during the overtime period in game five of the first round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Minnesota Wild at Pepsi Center. The Avalanche won 4-3 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Nathan MacKinnon did it again on home ice, as the rookie phenom put up 3 more points, including the overtime winner as the Colorado Avalanche held home ice with a 4-3 comeback win over the Minnesota Wild.
The game was not without controversy as the game tying goal off the stick of P.A. Parenteau appeared to come moments after the Avalanche were offside entering the Wild zone. Paul Stastny‘s trailing skate appeared to be in the air over the blue line as the puck crossed into the zone, which would mean off-side, but the linesman waved it off and Stastny went on to set up the goal seconds later to force overtime.
MacKinnon’s overtime winner, a quick snapshot through the legs of Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon and past Darcy Kuemper gave him 10 points in the playoffs so far, to lead all scorers. Amazingly enough, all 10 points have come in the Avs 3 home wins, while he was held pointless in the 2 games in Minnesota, both losses for the Colorado.
Earlier in the game, the teams exchanged goals while the Wild was on the power play. Cody McLeod scored shorthanded followed by Matt Moulson‘s power play marker a minute later as the middle of the second period was looming. Nick Holden put the Avs up a goal heading into the third period, but Zach Parise and Kyle Brodziak scored less than 2 minutes apart to give the Wild the lead, setting up the controversy and heroics of MacKinnon.
Dany Heatley had 2 helpers for the Wild in the losing effort.
In a series that has been exclusively won by the home team, the Wild will try to continue that trend on Monday and force a deciding game 7.