In a thrilling NHL game, the Colorado Avalanche staged a spectacular comeback, culminating in a Martin Necas goal with 11 seconds left in the third period, before securing a 3-2 shootout victory over the Chicago Blackhawks.
Necas tied the game at 2-2 with a deflection of Cale Makar‘s shot from the point, as Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood was off the ice, making way for an extra attacker. Nathan MacKinnon and Artturi Lehkonen scored in the shootout, sealing the victory for Colorado.
Makar had a goal and an assist, and MacKinnon recorded an assist for the Avalanche, who snapped a two-game losing streak after winning 12 of their last 14 games. The win extended Colorado‘s lead in third place in the Central Division to seven points over the Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues. The Avalanche also moved within six points of the Dallas Stars, who have two games in hand.
“It was good to see our guys get rewarded for some of their hard work here,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar said, according to NHL.com. “I don’t think we’ve been playing great hockey these last handful of games, but it hasn’t been all bad, either. I thought we generated a lot of really good scoring chances tonight, didn’t manage the puck that well at times. Being able to kind of dig in, in the third period, and finally capitalize on a couple of chances and come away with the two points is encouraging.”
Avalanche’s Epic Comeback
Makar cut the deficit to 2-1 at 9:17 of the third period with a shot from the right circle. Necas briefly left the game at 7:44 of the third period after falling head-first into Chicago’s Frank Nazar, but returned shortly after to score the tying goal.
“A little scary, especially when you see the video,” Bednar said. “His head kind of snaps back, and his neck snaps back. He was good enough to come back out, so that’s a positive sign. He’s moving around pretty well. I’m worried that he might be stiff and sore tomorrow, and could be a question mark (for Thursday’s game at the Columbus Blue Jackets). We’ll see what the night brings and how he presents in the morning.”
What’s Next for the Avalanche?
The Avalanche‘s victory, fueled by an epic comeback and standout performances from Makar and Necas, gives them a crucial boost in their quest to secure a playoff spot. The team’s resilience and ability to capitalize on opportunities were key factors in the victory. Concerns about injuries to Necas and Jonathan Drouin add an element of uncertainty to the team’s upcoming NHL games.
