A two-goal, third-period lead was never safe for the Avalanche, knowing the Dallas Stars had come back to win nine times from two-goal deficits this season — including Monday in Game 2 of their Western Conference semifinal series in Edmonton.
So was it surprising to see the Stars erase a two-goal hole and take the lead in the third period Wednesday in Game 3? No.
But it was the Avs’ response that rejuvenated interest in this high-scoring series that tightened considerably after Colorado’s 6-4 victory at Rogers Place.
Following Dallas’ three consecutive goals to begin the final frame, Colorado answered with three straight — the game-winner by Nazem Kadri with 6:04 remaining — and the Avs hung on to trim the Stars’ series lead to 2-1.
“Now we got ourselves a series,” Avalanche captain Gabe Landeskog said.
Colorado, leading 3-1 to begin the third period, allowed two goals in less than five minutes — the latter scored by former Avs forward Blake Comeau to tie it 3-3 at 9:02. The Stars got within 3-2 on Dennis Gurianov’s goal at 4:42, just seconds after Landeskog was released from the penalty box for roughing.
The Avs began the period shorthanded, after forward Vladislav Namestnikov took a roughing minor at the second-period buzzer. So the two roughing minors certainly cost Colorado in giving the Stars momentum.
“We end up in the penalty box a couple times and even if they don’t necessarily score on both of them it feeds them some momentum at that point in the game and eventually they end up tying it up and even take the lead,” Landeskog said. “Obviously, we’d like to play better with the lead, no doubt, and just stay on the attack and get some more zone time in their end. But at that point, what was done was done and we just kind of regrouped during that timeout and got back to work.”
Dallas regained its second lead of the game when Jamie Benn redirected Esa Lindell’s shot from the point with his leg with 9:13 remaining.
Avs superstar Nathan MacKinnon quickly responded, working a 2-on-1 rush with Mikko Rantanen to perfection to tie it at 12:12. Then Kadri stepped into a shot by defenseman Kevin Connauton for the game-winner, getting enough stick on the puck to redirect it in the net.
“I just tried to get myself in the best position to get a stick on the puck and ‘Nauts did a great job of sifting it through and I was able to keep my eye on it and get a piece of it,” Kadri said.
He added: “It’s just composure. As a team, we got good leaders and just focusing on the end result. We play to the last whistle. I think that’s been pretty evident thus far in the playoffs. We never really think a game is over until it’s actually over. Obviously, we’re not happy giving up that lead and we understand we have to lock it down and play better. But coming up with wins — and knowing inside that locker room that we still got more to give.”
Pierre-Edouard Bellemare scored an empty-net goal with 1:34 remaining to ice the victory for the Avs.
“We had a good, strong finish to the game, so kudos to our guys for sticking it with it to a full 60 (minutes) or more, if that’s what it takes,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said.
The Avalanche overcame a 1-0 first-period lead by scoring three straight in winning the second frame 3-0. Makar had two assists in the period and set up the third goal with a giant rush to the Stars’ net from the right wing. Makar unsuccessfully tried to put the puck between goalie Anton Khudobin’s legs but Landeskog jumped on the rebound from the goalmouth and did what Makar could not — beat Khudobin five-hole.
MacKinnon had the second assist on Landeskog’s goal to extend his playoff points streak to a club-record 11 games. He was tied with general manager Joe Sakic, who scored in 10 straight games in the 1996 postseason.
While Colorado led 3-1 to begin the third period, it was down to five defensemen, with Nikita Zadorov going down with an injury in the second.
As promised, the Avalanche came out playing physical and outshot the Stars 12-9 in the first period. Hits were 25-22 for Colorado, which had nine shots attempts blocked before Khudobin was needed. Dallas killed off an early Avalanche power play and, thanks to Tyler Seguin’s goal at 11:12, the opening 20 minutes unfolded just how the Stars wanted.
Seguin gave Dallas the early lead with quick hands in front of the left post. He took a pass from behind the net from Jamie Benn and, with his right knee on the ice, tapped the puck inside the near post for his second goal of the postseason and series.
But the Avalanche rallied for two goals in a span of 3:41.
Colorado tied it at 1:00 of the second period. Off an offensive-zone faceoff, Kadri won the puck back and Zadorov one-timed it in knuckleball fashion past Khudobin.
And then at 4:41, winger Andre Burakovsky accepted a shot push pass from Makar at the point and used his big wrister to beat Khudobin for a 2-1 lead.
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August 26, 2020 at 10:34PM
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Avalanche emerges the winner after wild six-goal third period in Game 3 - The Denver Post
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