SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Ross Colton scored twice, Justus Annunen made 25 saves in his first start of the season and the Colorado Avalanche beat the winless San Jose Sharks 4-1 on Sunday.
Cale Makar had an empty-net goal and two assists, and Joel Kiviranta also scored for Colorado. William Eklund scored for San Jose.
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Colorado Avalanche center Calum Ritchie (71), left, checks San Jose Sharks left wing William Eklund during the first period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Minh Connors)
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Samuel Girard (49) looks to make a pass during the second period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Minh Connors)
San Jose Sharks center Ty Dellandrea, left, checks Colorado Avalanche right wing Mikko Rantanen (96) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Minh Connors)
San Jose Sharks center Luke Kunin, left, and Colorado Avalanche center Ross Colton (20) fight for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Minh Connors)
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson (42) and San Jose Sharks center Luke Kunin (11) fist fight during the first period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024.
Colton has five goals in his last three games, also scoring twice Friday night in Anaheim in Colorado’s first victory of the season. He gave Colorado a 2-0 lead in the first period, connecting on a power play at 6:23 and at even strength with 3:23 left.
Makar has 10 assists through six games, and has points in each one.
Eklund cut it to 2-1 late in the first. Joel Kiviranta gave Colorado a 3-1 lead midway through the third, and Makar added the empty-netter.
Vitek Vanecek stopped 18 shots for San Jose.
Avalanche: Colorado is carrying three goalies on its three-game trip. Alexandar Georgiev — the NHL victory leader last season — has struggled to start the season. Georgiev backed up Annunen on Sunday. Kaapo Kahkonen, who was claimed off waivers from Winnipeg, could get a start on the trip.
Sharks: San Jose, which did not win its first game last year until November, is one of two teams (Nashville) still without a victory.
The Sharks outshot the Avalanche after giving up two early goals, but Kiviranta's forehand-to-backhand goal midway through the third after a pinpoint feed from the point by Josh Manson stunted San Jose's momentum.
San Jose, which allowed seven power play opportunities in each of its prior two contests prior to Sunday, had to defend a 5-on-3 power play for the third straight game.
Avalanche: At Seattle on Tuesday night.
Sharks: At Anaheim on Tuesday night.
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Colorado Avalanche center Calum Ritchie (71), left, checks San Jose Sharks left wing William Eklund during the first period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Minh Connors)
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Samuel Girard (49) looks to make a pass during the second period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Minh Connors)
San Jose Sharks center Ty Dellandrea, left, checks Colorado Avalanche right wing Mikko Rantanen (96) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Minh Connors)
San Jose Sharks center Luke Kunin, left, and Colorado Avalanche center Ross Colton (20) fight for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Minh Connors)
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson (42) and San Jose Sharks center Luke Kunin (11) fist fight during the first period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024.
NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Liberty finally have a WNBA championship after beating the Minnesota Lynx 67-62 in overtime of a decisive Game 5 on Sunday night.
Jonquel Jones scored 17 points to lead New York, which was one of the original franchises in the league. The Liberty made the WNBA Finals five times before, losing each one, including last season. This time they wouldn’t be denied, although it took an extra five minutes.
The win gave the city of New York its first basketball title since 1973 when the Knicks won the NBA championship.
With stars Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu struggling on offense, other players stepped up. Leonie Fiebich started off OT with a 3-pointer, and then Nyara Sabally had a steal for a layup to make it 65-60 and bring the sellout crowd to a frenzied state.
Minnesota didn’t score in OT until Kayla McBride hit two free throws with 1:51 left. The Lynx missed all six of their field goal attempts in overtime. After Ionescu missed a shot with 21 seconds left, her 18th miss on 19 shot attempts, the Lynx had one last chance, but Bridget Carleton missed a 3-pointer with 16 seconds left.
Stewart, who missed a free throw with 0.8 seconds left in Game 1, hit two free throws with 10.1 seconds left to seal the victory.
As the final seconds ticked off the clock the players hugged and streamers fell from the rafters
Napheesa Collier scored 22 points to lead Minnesota before fouling out with 13 seconds left in OT.
The Lynx were trying for a record fifth WNBA title, breaking a tie with the Seattle Storm and Houston Comets. Minnesota won four titles from 2011-17 behind the core group of Lindsay Whalen, Seimone Augustus, Rebekkah Brunson, Sylvia Fowles and Maya Moore. That was the team’s last appearance in the WNBA Finals until this year.
This is the first time since 2019 that the WNBA Finals have gone the distance. Since the league switched to a best-of-five format in 2005, seven other series have gone to a Game 5 and the home team has won five of those contests, including in 2019.
This series has been a fitting conclusion to a record-breaking season for the league. All five games came down to the last few possessions and have included two overtime games and a last-second shot, which have led to record ratings.
The first three games each had over a million viewers on average, with the audience growing for each contest. They also have had huge crowds in attendance.
Liberty fan Spike Lee was courtside over an hour before tipoff chatting with the media while wearing his Ionescu jersey. Once Ionescu finished warming up pregame, the pair had a brief exchange and hugged. Lee was part of a sellout crowd of 18,090 that helped this series set both the overall attendance record for a WNBA Finals as well as the average attendance mark.
AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball
New York Liberty forward Betnijah Laney-Hamilton (44) puts up a shot against Minnesota Lynx guard Kayla McBride (21) during the first quarter of Game 5 of the WNBA basketball final series, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
New York Liberty forward Leonie Fiebich (13) drives up the court against Minnesota Lynx forward Bridget Carleton (6) during the first quarter of Game 5 of the WNBA basketball final series, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
New York Liberty forward Nyara Sabally (8) grabs control of a rebound against Minnesota Lynx forward Alanna Smith (8) during the first quarter of Game 5 of the WNBA basketball final series, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) goes up for a shot against Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier (24) during the first quarter of Game 5 of the WNBA basketball final series, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
Minnesota Lynx forward Alanna Smith (8) puts up a shot against New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart (30) during the first quarter of Game 5 of the WNBA basketball final series, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) is fouled by Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier (24) during the first quarter of Game 5 of the WNBA basketball final series, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) drives against Minnesota Lynx forward Bridget Carleton (6) during the second quarter of Game 5 of the WNBA basketball final series, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
New York Liberty forward Betnijah Laney-Hamilton (44) reacts during the second quarter of Game 5 of the WNBA basketball final series against the Minnesota Lynx, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart (30) and Minnesota Lynx forward Bridget Carleton (6) battle for a loose ball during the second quarter of Game 5 of the WNBA basketball final series, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
Minnesota Lynx forward Cecilia Zandalasini (9) battles for a loose ball against New York Liberty forward Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, left, and guard Sabrina Ionescu, right, during the second quarter of Game 5 of the WNBA basketball final series, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) reacts in overtime of Game 5 of the WNBA basketball final series against the Minnesota Lynx, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier (24) celebrates their victory over the New York Liberty after Game 4 of a WNBA basketball final playoff series, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, in Minneapolis. The Lynx won 82-80, forcing a Game 5 in the series. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) reacts after missing a shot at the buzzer during the second half of Game 4 of a WNBA basketball final playoff series, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, in Minneapolis. The Lynx won 82-80, forcing a Game 5 in the series. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Minnesota Lynx guard Courtney Williams (10) reacts after defeating the New York Liberty after Game 4 of a WNBA basketball final playoff series, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, in Minneapolis. The Lynx won 82-80, forcing a Game 5 in the series. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
