complete an incredible three-goal rally to defeat the Stars 4-3 in the opening game of the second round

 

In a stunning turnaround, Miles Wood's persistence paid off as he netted the game-winner in overtime for the Colorado Avalanche. Bolting towards the net, Wood received a crucial pass from Andrew Cogliano before unleashing a blistering backhand shot 11:03 into the extra period. Despite trailing by three goals early on, the Avalanche clawed their way back to secure a thrilling 4-3 victory over the top-seeded Dallas Stars in the opening game of their second-round Western Conference series.

Coach Jared Bednar praised Cogliano's awareness, noting how he didn't just fire the puck but instead looked up and found Wood streaking through the defense. With his fresh legs, Wood powered past the opposition, demonstrating his speed and strength as he outmaneuvered defenseman Miro Heiskanen and beat Jake Oettinger to seal the win. This remarkable comeback marked only the Avalanche's third three-goal rally to win a playoff game in their history, and their first since 1997.

“There’s a scrum in the corner there. ... I was just screaming ‘Chip, chip, chip.’ He made a great play, and from there on out, I just used my speed,” said Wood, still breathing heavily from the game-winning play. “I definitely kicked it into high gear there.”

Cale Makar showcased his offensive prowess with a goal and two assists, while Valerie Nichushkin contributed with a goal and an assist for the Colorado Avalanche. Nathan MacKinnon swiftly equalized the game just 39 seconds into the third period, finding the net after being left unmarked to the left of the goal. Mikko Rantanen, who provided two assists, came agonizingly close to scoring midway through the third period when his shot hit the post.

Reflecting on the game, MacKinnon emphasized the team's resilience, stating, "It would have been easy to kind of fold after that first period. But we felt like we were playing better than what the score showed. We wanted to see it through."

In the net for the Avalanche, Alexander Georgiev stood tall with 19 saves, extending his winning streak to five consecutive starts. However, the Dallas Stars struggled to generate offense after the first period, managing only seven shots on goal for the remainder of regulation and six in overtime. Georgiev's performance was highlighted by key saves, including denying Tyler Seguin twice in less than a minute and deflecting several long high shots by Thomas Harley.

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