Nathan MacKinnon, Avalanche Championed By NHL Fans for Comeback OT Win vs. Stars

Now that's how you start a playoff series.

The Colorado Avalanche erased a 3-0 deficit in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals on Tuesday night, beating the Dallas Stars after Miles Wood scored the game-winner in overtime.

Turns out the 2021-22 champions still have that never-say-die resilience.

It looked like the Stars were going to absolutely cruise in this one after Ryan Suter, Wyatt Johnston and Jamie Benn scored in the first period, opening up a 3-0 lead.

But Valeri Nichushkin and Cale Makar countered in the second period with goals of their own, Nathan MacKinnon evened the contest early in the third and Wood provided the heroics in extra time.

The comeback and Wood's goal had fans and pundits alike absolutely buzzing after the game:

Alexandar Georgiev added 22 saves for the Avs in the win.

It was quite the night for hockey fans in general, as the night's only other game—a New York Rangers' 4-3 win over the Carolina Hurricanes—also went to overtime. It wasn't until the second period of extra time that Vincent Trocheck ended the game on the power play, giving the Rangers a 2-0 advantage in the series.

The Avs only went up 1-0 in this series, but did so on the road, stealing the home-ice advantage in the process.

The old cliché goes that a playoff series doesn't truly begin until a team wins on the road. Well, consider this series underway, and in earnest. It's hard to imagine a more dramatic way to get it started.