The Colorado Avalanche needed a win in the worst way, and it certainly had to overcome plenty to get the first one of the 2024-25 season.
Despite dominating this contest from start to end, the shorthanded Avs had to rally from two goals down and shrug off a tally in the final minute of regulation to defeat the Anaheim Ducks, 4-3, Friday night at Ball Arena.
Nathan MacKinnon scored with 40.1 seconds left in overtime. It was Colorado’s 49th shot of the game, and fifth in extra time.
“It trickled in somehow,” MacKinnon said while sporting an oversized Avs hat that will be the team’s player of the game award this season. “Wasn’t a great shot, but we were due for an ugly one to finally go in.
“It’s just … (49) to 20 shots. That’s the way it’s going, obviously. I think we’ve honestly played four of five solid games.”
Ross Colton’s second goal of the night gave Colorado the lead with 8:18 remaining in the third period. The Avs were forced to kill off a pair of penalties in the final six minutes, including a 6-on-4 advantage for the Ducks with their goalie pulled. Colorado entered the game ranked last in the NHL on the PK and University of Denver alum Troy Terry snapped one past Alexandar Georgiev with 12.6 seconds in regulation to send it to overtime.
Colton continued his hot start to the season. He’s one of the players who has been elevated in the lineup with four key forwards not available, and he now has four goals in five games. Both of his goals came on one-timers from the middle of the ice.
“He’s a bull,” MacKinnon said. “Super physical player, great scoring touch, great one-timer. Awesome player, and he’s really stepped up with three or four of our best players out.”
Colorado dominated the first period, but Anaheim led 2-0 at the intermission after the two weirdest goals of the season.
Brian Dumoulin shot the puck from the slot into a sea of bodies. It was in the Avalanche crease for a full seven seconds with no whistle before Leo Carlsson was credited with ushering it across the goal line. It appeared during one of the replays to be up against Georgiev’s leg pad but not under it, and Josh Manson’s attempts to shove it under his goalie proved futile.
That gave Anaheim a 1-0 lead at 6:05 of the first period, but that was the lesser of the two quirky Ducks goals. Late in the first period, the puck clearly hit the netting behind Georgiev and all 10 skaters on the ice stopped playing, assuming there would be a stoppage. There was even music played from the Ball Arena loudspeakers, briefly.
None of the officials actually blew the play dead, though. Samuel Girard sent the puck out of the Avs zone, and it wasn’t until the Ducks carried it back in before everyone realized they had to keep playing. Ryan Strome buried the rebound of a Dumoulin shot to give Anaheim a two-goal advantage.
Avs players and coaches protested, but it was a good goal. According to rule 38.10 “goals will only be reviewed for a potential “Missed Game Stoppage Event in the Offensive Zone” if the puck does not come out of the attacking zone again between the time of the “Missed Game Stoppage Event in the Offensive Zone” and the time the goal is scored.”
“I was mad, and not necessarily at the official, because we quit playing,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said. “You’ve got to keep playing. You can’t just throw it back to them and give up a goal late in the period.
“But, in (Girard’s) defense, the puck is out of play and the ref is (putting the whistle towards his mouth), he’s pointing, he’s going to blow it and he’s pointing again. If he didn’t see it go out, which is fine, just yell, “Play!” or “No!” then then guys know, but when you start going like (you’re going to blow the whistle), it is kind of deceiving.”
Bednar said the official apologized afterwards for the mistake. The coach also felt the puck was clearly covered by Georgiev on the first goal.
Undaunted, the Avs were even more dominant in the second period but were only able to cut the deficit in half. Casey Mittelstadt scored 57 seconds into the period on a breakaway. It was his fourth goal in five games to start the season, and it was rookie Nikolai Kovalenko’s first NHL point.
Colorado had an 18-8 advantage in shots on goal in the first period and then it was 17-3 in the second. Two of the Ducks’ 11 shots on goal came after the puck went into the netting. The Avs finished the game with 99 shot attempts.
Toss in the final 27-28 minutes Wednesday night against the Boston Bruins, and it looks like the Avalanche has finally found its footing this season, even with five key players out of the lineup.
“Hopefully, it’s the first of a few here,” Avs defenseman Cale Makar said. “I felt like we played a really good game tonight. Couple of unfortunate bounces, but that’s the way it goes sometimes. I’m really proud of the fight in our team.”
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