Nathan MacKinnon’s highlight-reel overtime goal propels Avalanche past Igor Shesterkin, Rangers
NEW YORK — This Colorado Avalanche team almost had a rare bit of genuine adversity to deal with, but Nathan MacKinnon remains a cheat code.
MacKinnon scored a beautiful overtime goal, his second of the game, to help the Colorado Avalanche fend off Igor Shesterkin and the New York Rangers.
His league-leading 24th goal of the season came with 2:14 remaining in the extra session to give the Avs a 3-2 win Saturday afternoon at Madison Square Garden.
Martin Necas assisted on all three goals. Shesterkin was immense, making 38 saves, but the Avs became the first NHL team to 20 wins this season.
“I’m glad that he got that one, for more reasons than not,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said. “I just think he could have had five tonight. I thought Shesterkin robbed him on multiple occasions, and on that one he kind of waited him out and made a beautiful move after dancing around the zone for a while.
“Big goal for us, obviously, to get the team back on track after the other night.”
MacKinnon, Necas and Cale Makar have been on the wrong end of all three overtime goals against for the Avs this season. They made some magic this time around.
MacKinnon scored with 4:34 remaining in the third period to put Colorado in front. Necas shot the puck from near the left point, and MacKinnon was there at edge of the crease to bat the rebound out of the air and past Shesterkin to give the Avs a 2-1 lead.
MacKinnon’s 23rd goal of the season looked like the game-winning tally, until it wasn’t.
For the first time this season, the Avalanche allowed a 6-on-5 goal against. Artemi Panarin’s one-timer from the left point with 40.9 seconds left evened the score and sent this contest to overtime. Colorado had two clearing attempts that nearly trickled into New York’s empty net, but both ended up as icings and helped the Rangers keep the pressure on.
There was an official review to see if Panarin had played the puck with a high stick earlier in the possession, but it was ruled a legal play and a good goal.
Colorado thought it had found an insurance goal 26 seconds after MacKinnon made it 2-1. Brock Nelson shoveled a rebound towards the goal line, but Shesterkin was able to keep the puck from crossing with right leg.
Parker Kelly put the Avalanche in front at 7:06 of the second period. Martin Necas carried the puck into the offensive zone on the left side and circled behind the net before connecting with Sam Malinski at the right point.
Kelly was able to get a piece of Malinski’s point shot while on his knees, and it fluttered by Shesterkin for his sixth goal of the season.
Connor Sheary evened the score early in the third period with a slick individual effort. The Avs had a long shift in the offensive zone that created multiple scoring chances, but J.T. Miller and Vincent Trocheck combined to spring Sheary on a counter attack.
Sheary made a nifty move to find space against Necas and was able to maintain possession despite a Cale Makar attempted stick lift before snapping a shot past Blackwood at 4:23 of the third.
Colorado controlled this game at even strength for most of the afternoon. Shesterkin kept the Rangers within striking distance with several important saves.
The Avs aren’t getting a lot of power-play chances lately, and they’re doing even less with them. Not converting the opportunities has been a season-long issue, the one part of the machine that hasn’t been firing properly for large chunks of the campaign.
They had two opportunities in this game, and did create four shots on goal in the four minutes, but Colorado is now 3 for 31 in the past 11 games.
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