Following a disheartening 3-2 loss to the Calgary Flames on Saturday, the Colorado Avalanche jumped back into the mix of things for their first game of a four-game road trip against the New York Rangers at the Madison Square Garden. Despite being able to put together a strong performance, the Avs ultimately fell 3-2 in the shootout against the Rangers.
Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog finished the game with two points in the game, while Avalanche goaltender Semyon Varlamov made 41 saves in the loss.
Despite coming out shooting against the Rangers to start off the first period, the Rangers were able to escape the first period with the 1-0 lead following a deflected power-play goal from Rangers forward Chris Kreider at the 12:07 mark of the first period.
Coming into the second period looking like they had something to prove, the Avalanche came up with the equalizing goal on a power play of their own, as Avalanche forward Tyson Jost tipped a Tyson Barrie wrist shot that found its way past Henrik Lundqvist.
Despite the Avalanche being able to come up with the tying goal, the Rangers were able to come right back as forward Kevin Hayes wired a slap shot past Semyon Varlamov at the 10:53 mark of the second period to help the Rangers retake the lead.
Shortly afterward, Avalanche forward Gabriel Landeskog caught former Avalanche Cody McLeod in the face with a high stick, drawing blood to give the Rangers a four-minute power play. Luckily enough for the Avalanche, the strong penalty-killing unit was able to kill off the double-minor.
Before Tuesday’s game, the Avalanche came in with the second-best penalty-killing percentage at 95.7 percent — only falling behind the Tampa Bay Lightning, who sat at a perfect 100 percent.
Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon deflected a shot from Gabriel Landeskog to tie the game and break a franchise record; becoming the franchise’s first player to score a goal in the first six games of the season.
“It was a lucky goal for me just going to the net and Gabe [Landeskog] made a great tip that hit me on the shin pad. You will take anyway to score, but it is obviously cool to have a record of my own,” Nathan MacKinnon told Altitude TV’s Kyle Keefe during the second intermission.
Following a dramatic overtime that was filled with shots ringing off the post, and the Avalanche penalty unit remaining strong, this one was headed into the shootout for the first time this season — where the Rangers put together a couple of goals from Mats Zuccarello and Kevin Shattenkirk to come away with the 3-2 victory.
After dropping the past two games, the Avalanche will look to come away with a victory this Thursday against the undefeated New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center as the East Coast road swing continues.
