Andy Cross / The Denver Post)
DENVER — Needing a point Thursday night to clinch its second straight playoff appearance for the first time since 2006, the Avalanche inadvertently dug itself a two-goal deficit against the Winnipeg Jets at the Pepsi Center.
No problem. The sellout crowd enjoyed watching the red-hot Avs dig out of that exact hole for the third straight time and reach the playoff promised land and make Saturday night's season finale at San Jose irrelevant.
Defenseman Erik Johnson scored with a wicked wrist shot 1:49 into overtime to give the Avalanche an extraordinary 3-2 victory over the Jets in the regular-season finale at the Pepsi Center.