The rest of the NHL is taking notice: You simply cannot let the Avalanche hang around in the third period.
For a league-leading sixth time this season and second in Dallas, the Avs erased a third-period deficit to defeat the Stars. This time, Colorado needed overtime, winning 5-4 over its division rival to extend its winning streak to four straight games.
“They have confidence as a group, head coach Jared Bednar told reporters in Dallas, referencing his team’s ability to regularly mount comebacks. “You got nothing to lose when you’re down in the third so you’re gonna press and you’re gonna push. Sometimes it goes your way and sometimes it doesn’t.”
Nathan MacKinnon had the overtime winner for the second straight game — one of two goals and three points for the NHL’s leading point producer — and Jonathan Drouin also pitched in with two goals. Mikko Rantanen, the third piece of the Avs’ top line, scored the other goal.
With the Stars pressing in OT, Avs defenseman Devon Toews played his man aggressively, eventually poking the puck away from Jason Robertson on what looked to be a 2-on-1 for the Stars. Toews’ play went right to MacKinnon, who bounced the puck off the boards past Stars forward Tyler Seguin before skating in on a breakaway. The closest trailing skater to him was his teammate, Toews, but MacKinnon elected to shoot instead, scoring his 22nd of the season.
“Big-time players show up in the big moments. And he did it again today,” Bednar said of MacKinnon, who has 55 points in his last 29 games.
The Avs trailed 3-2 entering the third period thanks to a late-second-period power-play goal from Drouin. Their comeback hit a snag midway through the third period after Seguin scored his second of the evening to make it 4-2. But it was all Avs the rest of the way.
What felt like the dagger ended up being a mere bump in the road. Just 38 seconds after Seguin’s tally, Drouin got his second of the game, tipping in a harmless shot from the point from Jack Johnson past goalie Scott Wedgewood. Drouin’s goal also elevated him to 20 points on the season and 12 in his last 11 games. He finished with 24:57 of ice time and was one of just four forwards to see ice time in OT for Colorado.
It’s safe to say he’s gained the coach’s trust.
“This is who we thought he could be,” Bednar said. “We hoped he would be a guy who can produce with our top guys.”
Trailing by a goal again, Colorado continued to press in an attempt to complete another come-from-behind victory. They pulled goaltender Alexandar Georgiev with 2:30 remaining in regulation and nearly gave up an empty netter moments later. But thanks to a block from Cale Makar, the game remained within reach.
After making the game-saving block, Makar eventually gained the offensive zone, firing a puck on goal from the blue line. The puck was deflected by Logan O’Connor in front before tricking in off of Rantanen’s skate past Wedgewood, who was flailing in his crease.
The Avs improved to 2-0-0 against the Stars, winning both road games. They host the Stars twice at Ball Arena before the end of the regular season. Colorado is 7-1-1 in its last nine games and is tied with Vancouver for the most goals in the NHL (143).