Avalanche first survives, then thrives

Carlos Gonzalez, Star Tribune

Wild defenseman Brent Burns tried to force the puck past Avs goalie Jose Theodore.

Colorado was outplayed by the Wild early, but goalie Jose Theodore held off a storm of Minnesota shots, making 38 saves.

By CHIP SCOGGINS, Star Tribune

Last update: April 18, 2008 - 12:19 AM

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History will record that Colorado won Game 5 Thursday by scoring two third-period goals for a 3-2 victory at Xcel Energy Center. In reality, the Avs emerged with a victory by somehow remaining tied after 40 minutes of blitzkrieg hockey by the Wild.

Severely outplayed through two periods, the Avs got up off the canvas and delivered a timely haymaker to take a 3-2 series lead with a chance to wrap things up Saturday at home in Game 6.

The Avs stole Game 5 after hanging on for dear life. The Wild outshot them 17-6 after one period and 32-14 after two.

That wasn't a storm they weathered. It was more like a hurricane.

It required a spectacular performance from goaltender Jose Theodore (38 saves) for Colorado to avoid being run off the ice.

"We had a great goalie," center Peter Forsberg said. "He saved us tonight. We were not good. They were all over us. [Theodore] kept us in the first two periods."

Except for a short burst that produced a power-play goal by former Wild winger Andrew Brunette at 12:24 of the first period, Colorado was on its heels most of the first two periods.

The Avs were so thoroughly outplayed that it looked like the ice had been tilted in the Wild's favor. The Wild had more energy, fresher legs, more life. It unloaded shots from all angles, but Theodore stood tall and maintained his poise despite being under constant duress.

"Theodore gets the credit," center Paul Stastny said. "They were all over us. Obviously he stole us a win."

Said Brunette: "We knew they were going to give us everything they had. They deserved to win tonight, but we snuck one out."

Wojtek Wolski scored from the point with five seconds left on a power play early in the third period to give the Avs a 2-1 lead.

Stastny, Colorado's leading scorer during the regular season, finally joined the party a few minutes later with his first goal -- and first point -- of the series on a backhander that beat Niklas Backstrom for a 3-1 lead.

"It was important to get that cushion," Stastny said.

That's because Brian Rolston scored with three seconds left in regulation. But it was too little too late.

The Wild can thank Theodore for that. It tied a team record in the playoffs with 40 shots, but Theodore was up to the task.

"As a goalie, every time I go into a game I just try to make every save," he said. "I've been there before. Just keep it simple."

The Avs acted more relieved than anything afterward. They played poorly for 40 minutes but still flew home with the victory. But it's not a formula they want to rely on again.

"We've got to play better," Brunette said.

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