The Colorado Avalanche got their game-winning goal where they needed it from — superstar Nathan MacKinnon. Their series with Calgary is now tied at one each.
Colorado Avalanche superstar Nathan MacKinnon scored the game-winning goal in overtime of Game 2. It’s MacKinnon’s second playoff overtime winner.
The Avalanche were the dominant team last night against the Calgary Flames. While the shots on goal ultimately ended up pretty even — 39 for Colorado, 37 for Calgary, the play was predominately in the Flames’ zone:
First period goes to the Avalanche with a big advantage in offensive zone time and some quality chances, but Mike Smith continues his strong play from Game 1. 0-0 after 20 minutes. #GoAvsGo #Flames #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/3Lr4LHGVNI
— LogiqBets (@LogiqBets) April 14, 2019
Colorado finally gets their first goal of the series with a shorthanded marker and continue to dominate offensive zone time roughly 4-to-1, thanks to some great work on the powerplay, but they still can't pull away from Calgary. 1-1 after 40 minutes. #GoAvsGo #Flames #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/zMfYOje0DF
— LogiqBets (@LogiqBets) April 14, 2019
More of the same for Colorado in the third. They have the puck in the offensive zone more than twice as much as Calgary, but they only have seven more shots on net as we head to overtime for the third time today! #GoAvsGo #Flames #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/XTEXZOLSkC
— LogiqBets (@LogiqBets) April 14, 2019
Unfortunately, Flames goalie Mike Smith seemed to be accessing his inner Dominik Hasek, flopping around but making saves.
The Avalanche went up on a short-handed goal from Long Beach native Matthew Nieto — yes, the first goal of the series to finally crack Smith’s wall was a shorty from a journeyman.
Unfortunately, the Flames not only got back into the game with a power play goal, they mustered some play in front of Philipp Grubauer and got a second. It looked dismal.
Now, I’m no Bednar hater — ok, I’m totally a Bednar hater — but I’ll give him credit for pulling the goalie early, with 2 1/2 minutes left in the period. Because that gave J.T. Compher time to score the equalizer:
Oh, man, no I don’t even feel bad for the Flames. They thought they had that game bagged in their home arena, the
. And then J.T. Compher went and ruined their night.
Well, he put a black mark on it. Nathan MacKinnon ruined their night, and that’s what we’re all here for.
The game went into overtime, and let me tell you, my heart is having a hard time taking sudden death overtime. Also, overtime was the bane of the Avs’ existence for most of the season, so I didn’t have high hopes.
My hopes were even lower when Ian Cole took this undisciplined penalty:
Girard Injury And Neal With A Bush League Turn To The Boardshttps://t.co/dyvco7kKQM
— Nathan Rudolph (@DNVR_Rudo) April 14, 2019
Yes, James Neal turns at the last minute. However, drivers are responsible for what happens in front of them, and so are checkers. Plus, Cole can be undisciplined at times.
Also, yeah, Sam Bennett jumped up into his check on Sam Girard, potentially injuring him. We don’t know what’s going on there, so let’s not focus on that.
Anyway, Colorado killed the penalty. Just as I was thinking I’d need to settle in for a long overtime, Mikko Rantenen dishes a pass to MacKinnon, who muscles his way pas two Calgary defenders. He then rips home this wrist shot:
That’s one filthy goal. But MacKinnon had been on supercharge all night, so it’s not such a surprise he scored the game-winning goal in overtime. Hopefully the goal signals Nate going into god mode again for the Colorado Avalanche.