Great Comebacks/Blown Leads “Quarters” Tilts Last Night

Last night, darn near simultaneously, both the top ranked Colorado Avalanche and NBA East four seed, Cleveland Cavaliers staged incredible “reg” comebacks, forcing an overtime period, manifesting in victories.

The ‘Lanche (8-1) in the ‘offs will be in their eighth semi/conference final in this, completed season number thirty (’96-2026–no season in ’05), after overcoming a (3-0) deficit after one period and more telling, a 2 goal deficit in the last 4 minutes, to (4-3) the Minnesota Wild, and win their “qtr” in 5 games.

Brett Kulak (ode to the “Untouchables”), scored the OT winner, while the great Nathan McKinnon’s goal tied the game in the last minute plus.

“Col” (ode to Rader with Dad “Cowboy” comparisons and “rub ins” perhaps always relevant) made the semis in six of their first 7 seasons in Colorado after qualifying just twice and going (0-2) and (2-8) in tilts, in their 16 seasons as the Quebec Nordiques. In Bettman’s NHL, it is difficult to win as a Canada based team.

The Wild in their just completed 25th season have never won as much as a “semis” game, losing four straight to Anaheim and their great netminder J.S. Giguere in ’03.

Meanwhile, the Cavs, who would be bigger underdogs vs the Knicks in the semis, (Det would have home advantage, Cleve would not), won (105-98) at Detroit (Pistons) for their first road win in these ‘offs despite trailing by 9 points in the last two plus minutes, to take a (3-2) series lead.

Game 6 is tomorrow night in Cleveland where the Cavs are (6-0) in these ‘offs.

Elsewhere “since,” the Spurs ripped Minne to lead (3-2) with #6 at Minnesota (Timberwolves) tonight.

In the NHL, Pavel Dorofeyev’s second goal of the game, at 7:12 of overtime lifted Las Vegas (Golden Knights) (3-2) and now up (3-2), vs the Anaheim Ducks, with #6 tonight in Anaheim.

Buffalo won (3-2) at Montreal in game 4 to knot that “quarter” at two games apiece. # 5 is tonight in Buffalo, where (then it was “The Aud”) the 5th/’75 semis, between the two teams, also standing at (2-2), was contested.

#5 OT Goal scorer, Pavel Dorofeyev of the Golden Knights, is pictured above.