Recap: Colorado keeps rolling with their seventh straight win

SB Nation

Tonight, the Colorado Avalanche took on the New York Rangers for the first of two regular-season matchups between these two teams. Ultimately, it would be the Colorado Avalanche who would win this matchup by

a final score of 6-3 with two goals each from Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar.

Let’s take a look back on all the action from tonight!

First Period

The Rangers would be the ones to get on the board first, as they scored about three minutes into the game on the power play. JT Miller would ultimately be credited with the goal, as Mika Zibanejad banked the puck into the net off of his skate right in front of the Avalanche net, in what was a set play of sorts.

The Avalanche would respond before the end of the period, however, as Nathan MacKinnon would score his first goal of the night. Martin Necas initially put the puck on net from the top of the circles on this play and the Rangers goalie gave up a pretty big rebound, which MacKinnon put into the net to tie the game at 1-1.

Second Period

Adam Edstrom would give New York a 2-1 lead coming into this period, as he used his size to redirect the puck into the back of the Avalanche net. You can absolutely make the argument that Colorado should’ve played this goal better, but when you’re as big as Edstrom is, you have an immediate advantage in situations like that, and this time it resulted in a goal.

Once again, though, Colorado wouldn’t be denied, and once again tied this game before the period ended, sending the Avs into intermission tied at 2-2. Necas would pick up his second assist of the night on this play, as he found Cale Makar with a sweet cross-ice pass, and Makar would wrap the puck around the net and put it in past Igor Shesterkin.

Third Period

Colorado would flip the script at the start of this period, as they would get on the board first. Brock Nelson would score the go-ahead goal to give the Avs a 3-2 lead on the power play from the second unit, as he would carry the puck into the zone, and put a great shot on net to beat Shesterkin. This goal was also notable because it gave Wedgewood his first career NHL point.

The Rangers wouldn’t go quietly, however, as Miller would get his second of the night on the powerplay, in almost identical fashion to his first goal. This time, though, instead of being parked at the side of the crease to bank a puck in, he would be parked in front of Scott Wedgewood as he tipped the puck into the net.

Like they were able to do all game, the Avs would come right back, and MacKinnon would get his second of the night, as he was able to bury a backhand into what was essentially an empty net, to give the Avs the lead right back, and put them up 4-3.

Cale Makar and Ross Colton would both score empty net goals to finish out the period, to give us a ratcheted up final score of 6-3.

Takeaways

This was probably one of the uglier games that the Avs have played so far this season, in my opinion, but a win is a win. After all, they don’t ask how, they just ask how many. Nathan MacKinnon stayed red hot tonight, as he added another two goals and an assist to his season totals, and Cale Makar also scored two goals on the night to help the Avs secure a win. When your best players needed to be your best players, they absolutely delivered tonight. On top of that, you got help from your depth, as Brock Nelson also got a goal and an assist tonight. Overall, when you’ve won seven games in a row, there’s not much to complain about, especially when your superstar players are still doing superstar things and carrying you to victory.