NHL Playoffs: Avalanche score with 5.6 seconds to eliminate Blues
Anthony Scultore
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The NHL playoffs await just one more team to start the Conference Finals after the Colorado Avalanche scored with just ticks on the clock to eliminate the St. Louis Blues.
The Avalanche have waited 20 years to make a trip to Round 3 of the playoffs and a chance to win the Stanley Cup. Darren Helm potted the series clinching goal in the dying seconds of the third period to advance Colorado.
Tonight, the Carolina Hurricanes will be looking to punch their ticket to the Conference Final as they face the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden.
NHL Playoffs: Avalanche 3 vs Blues 2
Darren Helm was the hero for the Avs by scoring the series-winning goal with 5.6 seconds left. The Colorado Avalanche bounced back from a big collapse in Game 5 at home to beat the St. Louis Blues on the road 3-2 Friday night.
Helm ripped a slap shot from the top of the left circle by Ville Husso, who stopped 36 shots, to advance the Avs to their first Conference Final since 2002. For Helm, it was his first goal of these playoffs and just the 8th in his 69 game postseason.
“The pass bounced off the side wall, I just wanted to get the puck on the net, and it found its way,” Helm said.
Justin Faulk and Jordan Kyrou were the Blues scorers. Meanwhile, J.T. Compher picked up two goals (his first of these playoffs) and Darcy Kuemper made 18 saves in the winning effort for the Avs.
“I think you really have to enjoy the journey. That’s the most important thing we’re going to look back on is the journey of getting to this point,” Avs forward Nathan MacKinnon said. “There will only be four teams soon and obviously the job’s not finished, but that’s a great accomplishment for us.”
–Field Level Media contributed to this article.