Colorado Avalanche: All About JT Compher’s Overtime Goal

Colorado Avalanche rookie JT Compher scored the game-winning goal in overtime. It was a beauty of a shot through a screen.

The Colorado Avalanche beat the Toronto Maple Leafs in overtime last night on a power play goal by forward J.T. Compher.

The Avalanche hadn’t been too stellar on the three-on-three overtime up to that point — Toronto was dominating possession. I’m not sure why a run and gun team like Colorado isn’t better at the three-on-three, but they haven’t showed up well this season.

A little ways into the overtime, Toronto right wing Connor Brown got his body in front of what was about to be a streaking Nathan MacKinnon. MacK folded over Brown, and the referees called interference. Colorado would get a four-on-three power play opportunity.

Compher’s first goal for the Colorado Avalanche was a drive to the net followed by a sniper’s shot that found the back of the net. Well, that seems to be a JT special because he’s done it a few more times since then  — including last night.

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The Avalanche set up a good power play. They were circled around the Maple Leafs and were getting pucks on net. They got three shots on net, a couple of misses and a blocked shot.

One of the blocked shots was Compher’s initial effort. Former Avalanche goalie, Calvin Pickard, gave up a rebound. There was a scramble in front of the net. Rookie Samuel Girard kept it in the zone. He got the puck over to Compher.

And that’s when the JT Special went into play. He drove toward the net. Somehow he saw an impossible opening through Leafs and Avalanche bodies. He threaded the needle, and scored the game-winning overtime goal:

I just like the skill that’s evident in this goal. He’s got good vision and a shot that can back up what he sees.

Compher described his goal after the game:

“Great screen by [Alexander Kerfoot], [Samuel Girard] kept the puck in and just stuck with it. You want to try and end it when you have a power-play opportunity in overtime, and we were able to do that.”

Center Nathan MacKinnon had some high praise for the JT Special:

“It was an unbelievable release by Comph. He was coming left and went back right, not many guys can do that. It was a great shot.”

That goal marked JT Compher’s seventh of the season and 13th point. Compher missed several games with a broken thumb, and it took him a little while to get back in his groove. Indeed, for a while he had some of the best chances of the night in his games, but he just couldn’t convert.

Luckily, he didn’t have any trouble converting last night.

Next: Compher Ready to Contribute

Colorado Avalanche forward J.T. Compher has been a good addition for the team. He’s a solid two-way centerman with a cool head on his young shoulders. In fact, color analyst Peter McNab once remarked that Compher has the stoniest face he’s ever seen in hockey.

Funny, if you watch the celebration after the video, you can see that Compher is, indeed, rather stony faced. Fellow rookie — and “little brother” — Tyson Jost looks way more excited.

I didn’t expect this much from Compher when the Buffalo Sabres included him as part of the Ryan O’Reilly trade. I thought he was just icing. That’s some fine icing.