Avs stage late rally to edge Preds

Sven Andrighetto’s goal at 18:32 of the third period Friday night capped a stunning rally that gave the visiting Colorado Avalanche a 2-1 win over the Nashville Predators in Game 5 of their first-round Western Conference series.

Andrighetto got to the rebound of J.T. Compher’s shot that was saved by Pekka Rinne and roofed it for his first career playoff goal, ultimately cutting the Predators’ series lead to 3-2 and forcing a Game 6 to be played Sunday night in Denver.

Andrew Hammond was the star for Colorado, stopping 44 shots to record his first win in three career playoff starts. Hammond, who replaced Jonathan Bernier (lower-body injury) after the second period of Wednesday night’s 3-2 loss in Game 4, made 18 saves in the third period.

Rinne made 24 saves for Nashville, which lost for just the third time in its last 18 home games in the playoffs.

Jets 5, Wild 0

Connor Hellebuyck’s second consecutive shutout and a fourgoal first period powered host Winnipeg past Minnesota to complete a series sweep.

Jacob Trouba, Bryan Little, Brandon Tanev and Joel Armia scored in the game’s opening 12 minutes to complete the first postseason series triumph for the Jets in franchise history.

Hellebuyck, named a finalist for the Vezina Trophy earlier in the week, made 30 saves. Three nights earlier, he also stopped all 30 shots he faced for his first career postseason shutout.

Mark Scheifele added his fourth goal of the series in the third period.

The Jets were 32-7-2 during the regular season at home, and they’ve gone 3-0 in postseason home games. They hold a 12-game overall home winning streak heading to the Western Conference semifinals.

Paul Stastny and Dustin Byfuglien each recorded two assists.

Flyers 4, Penguins 2

Sean Couturier scored the game-winning goal with 1:15 left in the third period to lift Philadelphia past host Pittsburgh.

Valtteri Filppula, Claude Giroux and Matt Read also scored as the Flyers staved off elimination and now trail 3-2 in the series. Game 6 will be Sunday afternoon in Philadelphia.

Flyers goaltender Michal Neuvirth stopped 30 shots in the win.

Neuvirth made a spectacular save on Sidney Crosby with 1:01 remaining and Read sealed the victory with an empty net goal with 17.3 seconds left.

The Penguins struggled on the power play, going 0-for-5.

Pittsburgh’s Conor Sheary attempted to tie the game but ripped a shot off the post with 11:20 left in the second. Sheary also had another shot go wide before clanging that one off the post.

The Penguins kept peppering Neuvirth with shots and eventually tied the game at 1 with eight minutes remaining as Rust scored on a wraparound.

The Flyers responded with several good chances in front of the net but couldn’t capitalize. Giroux had the best opportunity but was stymied by Murray.

Pittsburgh went ahead 2-1 with 3:15 left in the second as Guentzel shot one through Neuvirth’s pads.

The Flyers tied the game at 2 with a short-handed goal by Filppula with 1:45 left.

Giroux put the Flyers on the board for a 1-0 lead when he blasted a slapshot past Murray with 2:31 remaining in the first. It was Giroux’s first goal of the series.

Pittsburgh’s Phil Kessel nearly equalized less than a minute later when he skated in and shot the puck just wide of Neuvirth.

The Flyers led 9-5 in shots and held a 1-0 advantage at the end of the first. (Reuters)