It didn’t start well, but it sure ended well for the Colorado Avalanche, who came back from an early 3-0 deficit to beat the Minnesota Wild 4-3 in overtime. Colorado advances to the conference finals.

Here are three takeaways from a crazy Game 5.

Brutal first period

Fans were ready to party on Wednesday night, but the Wild had other plans.

It started on the first shift of the game, where the Wild pinned Colorado in its own end before Marcus Johansson was left wide open in the slot.

Eleven minutes in, the Avalanche lost coverage off the rush and a Nick Foligno deflection squeaked through Mackenzie Blackwood.

Just when it looked like the Avalanche would get lucky with a Wild goal overturned, they went and gave it right back, as Blackwood left out a bad rebound that created a third Wild goal.

The Avalanche didn’t come ready to play in this one, but they did redeem themselves.

Blackwood pulled after one

It wasn’t all on Blackwood, as the Avalanche were outworked and outplayed in the first period, but Colorado’s starting goaltender didn’t play very well.

The rebound on the third goal was juicy, to say the least. When the Avalanche came out for the second period, it was Scott Wedgewood who led them onto the ice.

Blackwood stopped just 10 of the 13 shots he faced.

Crazy comeback

Whatever was said after the first period worked.

The Avalanche kept pushing and pushing and eventually tied the game up with less than 90 seconds remaining. It all started with the fourth line, which was on the ice for three of Colorado’s four goals.

Nathan MacKinnon scored a goal that really only Nathan MacKinnon could, firing a shot short side on Jesper Wallstedt to tie the game up and send Ball Arena into a frenzy.

In overtime, Brett Kulak, who had a rough first period, finished it off, sending the Avalanche to the conference finals. Kulak was the guy in the defensive zone who broke up a 2-on-1, and at the other end, became the 16th Avalanche player to score a goal this series.

“I love it,” coach Jared Bednar said after hearing that stat.