MacKinnon continues his home point streak in comeback win
The Colorado Avalanche returned to their home ice on Sunday night and defeated the Arizona Coyotes 4-3 with a late goal from defenseman Devon Toews. The Avalanche overcame two one-goal deficits and improved their league-best home record to 21-5 this season.
Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and an assist to extend his point streak at Ball Arena to 26 games, the second-longest to open a season in NHL history. Only Wayne Gretzky had a longer home point streak with 40 games in the 1988-89 season with the Los Angeles Kings.
MacKinnon scored the tying goal in the second period after Logan Cooley had given the Coyotes a 3-2 lead. MacKinnon whacked at a loose puck several times at the goal line before knocking it past the leg pad of Coyotes goaltender Karel Vejmelka.
Toews scores the winner as Avalanche survive challenges
The third period was a roller coaster of emotions for both teams, as two potential go-ahead goals were overturned for offsides on challenges. First, Alex Kerfoot’s goal for the Avalanche was disallowed after a lengthy review. It was ruled that he did not keep his skate onside before grabbing the puck out of the air on a breakaway.
About 30 seconds later, Jonathan Drouin’s goal for the Coyotes was taken off the board when the Avalanche successfully challenged that Mikko Rantanen entered the offensive zone too soon.
The game remained tied until Toews scored the winner with 6:35 remaining. He took a pass from Rantanen and fired a wrist shot to the stick side of Vejmelka, who made 33 saves in his second NHL start.
The Coyotes nearly responded with 4:56 left, sending a puck into the net, only to have the whistle blow before it slid by Avalanche goaltender Alexandar Georgiev. Georgiev stopped 28 shots, including several in the final 80 seconds after Artturi Lehkonen was called for a tripping penalty and the Coyotes pulled their goalie.
Coyotes extend their losing streak to nine games
The Coyotes have not won a game since Jan. 22 and have dropped to the bottom of the Western Conference standings. They have been outscored 38-18 during their nine-game skid.
Matt Dumba, Lawson Crouse and Cooley scored for the Coyotes, who took a 1-0 lead in the first period when Dumba beat Cale Makar to the puck and slipped it past Georgiev.
The Avalanche tied the game in the second period when Ross Colton redirected a shot from Samuel Girard. Jack Johnson gave the Avalanche a 2-1 lead with a power-play goal, but Crouse answered with a short-handed goal for the Coyotes.
A big moment in the game came late in the second period, when the Avalanche had a four-minute power play after MacKinnon was hit by Adam Ruzicka’s stick on his already broken nose that drew blood. The Coyotes weathered the storm and kept the game tied at 3.
The Avalanche will host the Coyotes again on Tuesday night, hoping to extend their home dominance and MacKinnon’s point streak.
