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Veteran shutdown defenseman Brett Kulak was the overtime hero in the Colorado Avalanche's series-clinching comeback win. They could know their Western Conference final opponent as soon as Thursday.

Brett Kulak has had quite the year leading up to his series-winning goal for the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday.

The 32-year-old started the season with the Edmonton Oilers before being sent to the Pittsburgh Penguins as part of the Tristan Jarry and Stuart Skinner trade in December. He then joined the Avalanche at the NHL trade deadline in March, averaging 19 minutes of ice time for the league leaders.

On Wednesday, the Minnesota Wild took a 3-0 lead in the first period as they tried to stay alive in the second round.

But in the second period, Kulak recorded a secondary assist on Parker Kelly's goal to make it 3-1. The Avs continued to chip away, and Nathan MacKinnon tied the game with less than two minutes left in regulation.

How important has the Golden Knights' goaltending been?

Nearly four minutes into overtime, Kulak became the hero.

The shutdown defenseman, who's not known to produce much offense, scored his first goal of the playoffs and second of the year to secure a berth in the Western Conference final for the Avalanche.

Colorado will face either the Vegas Golden Knights or Anaheim Ducks. Their series will end on Thursday if Vegas wins Game 6.

Here are series updates, odds for the next game in each matchup from BetMGM, leading scorers in these NHL playoffs and the schedule for Thursday.

May 14 NHL Playoff Schedule

Times are listed in eastern time.

Game 5: Montreal at Buffalo, Thursday, May 14, 7 p.m. (TNT, truTV, HBO Max, SN, CBC, TVAS)

Game 6: Vegas at Anaheim, Thursday, May 14, 9:30 p.m. (TNT, truTV, HBO Max, SN, SN360, TVAS)

Buffalo Sabres (A1) vs. Montreal Canadiens (A3)

Series tied 2-2

Game 1: Montreal 2, Buffalo 4

Game 2: Montreal 5, Buffalo 1

Game 3: Buffalo 2, Montreal 6

Game 4: Buffalo 3, Montreal 2

Game 5 odds on BetMGM: Montreal (2.00/+100), Buffalo (1.83/-120)

Carolina Hurricanes (M1) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (M3)

Carolina wins 4-0

Game 1: Philadelphia 0, Carolina 3

Game 2: Philadelphia 2, Carolina 3 (OT)

Game 3: Carolina 4, Philadelphia 1

Game 4: Carolina 3, Philadelphia 2 (OT)

Colorado Avalanche (C1) vs. Minnesota Wild (C3)

Colorado wins 4-1

Game 1: Minnesota 6, Colorado 9

Game 2: Minnesota 2, Colorado 5

Game 3: Colorado 1, Minnesota 5

Game 4: Colorado 5, Minnesota 2

Game 5: Minnesota 3, Colorado 4 (OT)

Vegas Golden Knights (P1) vs. Anaheim Ducks (P3)

Vegas leads 3-2

Game 1: Anaheim 1, Vegas 3

Game 2: Anaheim 3, Vegas 1

Game 3: Vegas 6, Anaheim 2

Game 4: Vegas 3, Anaheim 4

Game 5: Anaheim 2, Vegas 3 (OT)

Game 6 odds on BetMGM: Anaheim (1.91/-110), Vegas (1.91/-110)

Leading Scorers

1. Mitch Marner, Vegas Golden Knights: 16 points, 11 games

T-2. Jack Eichel, Vegas Golden Knights: 15 points, 11 games

T-2. Kirill Kaprizov, Minnesota Wild: 15 points, 11 games

T-2. Quinn Hughes, Minnesota Wild: 15 points, 11 games

T-5. Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche: 13 points, 9 games

T-5. Matt Boldy, Minnesota Wild: 13 points, 11 points

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