DENVER -- Nino Niederreiter hesitated for just a moment after scoring the winning goal, not sure if what he just saw actually occurred. It happened, all right. His Minnesota teammates suddenly skating over to mob him made the moment real. Niederreiter scored his second goal of the game at 5:02 in overtime after Ilya Bryzgalov made a big save filling in for the injured Darcy Kuemper, leading the Wild to a 5-4 win over the Colorado Avalanche in Game 7 on Wednesday night. The right winger was a rather unlikely star with his first two goals of the series. "An unbelievable feeling," said Niederreiter, whose team captured their first playoff series since 2003. "I think our heart made the difference tonight." Minnesota trailed 4-3 before Jared Spurgeon scored on a nifty play with 2:27 left in regulation. Spurgeon waited for a clear look at the goal, and then shot it over Semyon Varlamovs shoulder and off the left post. Mikko Koivu and Dany Heatley had the other goals for the Wild, who will face the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks in a second-round series that begins Friday. The two met last season, with the Blackhawks winning in five games. Nick Holden, Jamie McGinn, Paul Stastny and Erik Johnson scored for the Avalanche as they returned to the post-season for the first time since 2010 and tied a franchise record with 52 wins in capturing the Central Division. Not that its much consolation -- not now, anyway. "The toughest part is to not come back tomorrow and be ready for Chicago," first-year coach Patrick Roy said. "We believe in ourselves and its hard to see that its over. "Im sure tomorrow is going to hurt more thinking its over because we still have the emotion of the game." Rookie Nathan MacKinnon couldnt agree more. "It tarnishes the year a lot," said MacKinnon, who had two goals and eight assists in the series. "We wanted to make a run here and we had a chance twice to win the series, once in Game 6 and obviously tonight. Its tough to describe what went on. "Weve got to wait until September to get things going again, which is going to be a long summer, especially watching the playoffs. Its going to be tough." The Avalanche took a lead on four different occasions, only to have the Wild respond. Niederreiter won it for Minnesota on a 2-on-1 break when he sent a shot over Varlamovs shoulder in the fourth overtime of the series. "Its not easy to play against a good team," said Varlamov, whos a finalist for the Vezina Trophy thats given to the leagues top goaltender. "Theyve been playing well against us the whole series." Bryzgalov took over in net for Kuemper midway through the third. Bryzgalov started the series but was replaced by Kuemper in Game 2. The veteran Bryzgalov stopped a shot with his left shoulder early in the overtime, paving the way for Niederreiters winner. It was his only save in 13:15 of action. Now, like most of the season, the Wild have a concern at goalie, especially since coach Mike Yeo isnt sure how badly Kuemper is hurt. "If only we had any experience dealing with this," Yeo jokingly said. "Were fortunate we have good depth at that position." Roys first season on the bench for the Avalanche ended the same way his Hall of Fame goaltending career did -- with a loss to the Wild in Game 7. Roy surrendered the winning overtime goal in 2003. This one was just as agonizing. "We had our chance -- dont kid ourselves," Roy said. "We had our chance and they took advantage of theirs." Niederreiter was starting to heat up in Game 6, but couldnt find the net. That changed on Wednesday. "He raised the bar," Yeo said. "Got himself in trouble now, because this is what we expect." Niederreiter was only happy to contribute. "As a little kid, its exactly the moment you dream about," Niederreiter said. "Im very happy and fortunate that it happened tonight." NOTES: Minnesota F Matt Cooke served the fourth game of his seven-game suspension for his knee-to-knee hit on Avs D Tyson Barrie. Cooke has appeared in the most Game 7s (seven) of any Wild player. ... Yeo said this is the start of a "budding rivalry" between the two Central Division foes. ... Wild F Kyle Brodziak had three assists. ... Colorado Fs P.A. Parenteau and Matt Duchene each had two assists. This was Duchenes second game back after missing almost a month with a knee injury. Cheap Braves Jerseys . The freestyle skier from Calgary finished sixth in the qualification round with a total of 82.00 points. Groenewoud won a silver medal at the X Games last month, just over five weeks after undergoing double knee surgery. Sonny Jackson Jersey .Y. -- Syracuses streak lives on -- barely. http://www.custombravesjersey.com/. -- Terry Francona likened the atmosphere at Kauffman Stadium on Tuesday to a playoff game in October. Biff Pocoroba Jersey .C. Lions. The clubs former starting quarterback, assistant and head coach returned Thursday as its receivers coach. Deion Sanders Jersey .The surgery was performed by Dr. William Meyers at the Vincera Institute in Philadelphia.Letestu had three goals and two assists in nine games before being injured in late October.The 29-year-old has 54 goals and 65 assists in 273 career NHL games, including 39 goals and 51 assists in 188 games with the Blue Jackets.MONTREAL - The lawyer for a star McGill University football player charged in an alleged case of domestic violence says his client was the victim and not the aggressor.Luis-Andres Guimont-Mota, 22, was formally arraigned in Montreal on Thursday on charges of assault and uttering threats against his estranged wife. He was immediately released on $300 bail and a host of conditions.The third-year business management student and starting running back was arrested at a downtown apartment on Wednesday morning.By late that evening, McGill said the player in question had been immediately suspended as per the universitys varsity athletics guidelines.Whats particular in this case is my client is the victim and not the aggressor, contrary to the cases in the United States, said defence lawyer Steve Hanafi, referring to a spate of domestic violence cases involving National Football League players.Hanafi said the university was too hasty in suspending Guimont-Mota from the football team and that he and his client would challenge the decision.I think they acted too fast just to protect their image and they dont know the facts, he told reporters outside the courtroom.The university said the deputy provosts office for student life and learning will investigate and take any measures deemed appropriate.Hanafi said Guimont-Mota is considering filing a cross-complaint against his estranged wife, the aalleged victim in the current case.ddddddddddddHis parents were in court on Thursday and Guimont-Motas father offered a surety of $750 in addition to the bail.The family didnt speak to reporters after the hearing.Guimont-Mota and his estranged wife were married in 2012, but are now considering a divorce, the lawyer said.Hanafi said the alleged victim told Guimont-Motas mother shed struck him in the face.For the moment, were faced with two contradictory versions (of what happened), Hanafi said. She says he pushed her and my client says something else and we have leads that suggest he may be the victim.Guimont-Mota was voted McGills most outstanding offensive player in 2013.By Thursday morning, his profile had been removed from the McGill Redmen teams website, although his photo remained prominently displayed on the home page as he was a recipient of a $1,500 bursary from the Montreal Alouettes earlier this month.The case returns to court Feb. 23, 2015.Guimont-Mota pleaded guilty in 2011 to an assault outside a Quebec City bar in May 2010.He was sentenced last year to 90 days in jail to be served discontinuously, according to court records obtained by The Canadian Press.Quebec Le Soleil reported that the judge granted him a request for such a sentence to allow him to continue playing football.Its unclear if these charges will have an impact in that case, Hanafi said. ' ' '