After having arguably their worst defensive game of the season, the Avalanche went into Madison Square Garden and tightened things up in front of Mackenzie Blackwood. Nathan MacKinnon scored late in the third period and again in overtime to lift the Avs to a 3-2 OT victory over the New York Rangers to become the first team to 20 wins this season.
MacKinnon’s second tally was his league-leading 24th of the season. And it was a beauty — both of his goals were.
After giving up a game-tying goal with 40 seconds remaining, the Avs were the better team in OT. MacKinnon beat Igor Shesterkin clean with the backhand at the end of a long shift to win the game.
It was a much-needed OT winner with MacKinnon, Martin Necas, and Cale Makar on the ice. That trio has struggled in OT this season.
MacKinnon’s first goal, which also came late in the third, was also a great play. Colorado’s superstar center batted the puck out of the air and past Shesterkin to find the back of the net. It was insanely close to being above the crossbar, but MacKinnon timed it perfectly to give the Avs a 2-1 lead.
The Rangers’ game-tying goal was scored on a 6-on-5 attack after the Avs struggled to clear the zone.
The Avalanche improved to 1-1 on the road trip and have little time to prepare for the second leg of a back to back tomorrow in Philadelphia.
It wasn’t a great start for the Avs. After getting a couple of early shots on Shesterkin, the Rangers took over and tested goalie Mackenzie Blackwood at the other end. It wasn’t until Makar had a flurry of late chances in the first period that the Avalanche’s offense got going.
The second period was better for them. And they got going right away. The Avs had 13 shots in that frame and even drew a penalty. After yet another concerning, ineffective power play, they kept the pressure on, which led to the game’s first goal.
And it was all thanks to Zakhar Bardakov.
The fourth-line center beat his man and closed in on Shesterkin, but was stopped. Parker Kelly was also around the crease fighting for the puck, and a Sam Malinski point shot was also saved. The play continued, and half the line had gone for a change. Martin Necas found Malinski again, and his shot from the point was redirected in by Kelly on his knee.
Bardakov had already changed by then, but his play early in the shift got the pressure started. The Avs carried that 1-0 lead into the third period before Sheary tied it up to break Blackwood’s shutout bid.
Positive: Overcoming Early Struggles
The Avs’ biggest issue in the game on Long Island was how quickly they went down. The Isles scored twice in the first period and added two more early in the second before Colorado got going.
They had dug themselves into such a big hole that the two quick goals from Valeri Nichushkin and Necas weren’t enough.
It wasn’t the same fate at MSG. Colorado looked shaky early, but Blackwood did his part to keep the team from giving up a goal. The Avalanche eventually found their game, and they tightened up defensively as the offense started to roll.
Negative: Power Play is Power Less
Still, the biggest glaring issue with this team is that the power play has reached new levels of being ineffective. At some points this season, they’ve at least looked dangerous. But I can’t remember much danger in any of their recent opportunities.
They can’t get anything going on the road, and it’s going to hurt them eventually. For a team that looks so great at five-on-five, it makes me curious why they can’t figure out how to set up on the man-advantage.
With the game tied at 1-1, the Avs had a chance to take the game back, but couldn’t get any solid looks. They moved the puck around the perimeter, but it never felt like the Rangers were in danger. Teams have figured out how to neutralize Colorado’s superstars on the man advantage, and they need to figure out how to overcome that.
