DENVER — On a thrilling Sunday night, the Colorado Avalanche secured their fifth consecutive victory, edging out the Ottawa Senators with a final score of 5-4. The excitement peaked in the high-scoring third period, where Logan O’Connor and Ross Colton each found the net just 1:32 apart, pushing the Avalanche to a strong win despite a late rally from Ottawa.
Nikolai Kovalenko celebrated a significant milestone as he netted his first NHL goal for Colorado. Additionally, Josh Manson tallied his first goal of the season. This win marks a remarkable recovery for the Avalanche, who had previously struggled with an 0-4-0 start to the season.
The game began with the Senators trailing 2-0. However, they found their stride midway through the third period when Brady Tkachuk and Nick Cousins scored within just 2:08. O’Connor and Colton quickly responded, bringing the Avalanche’s lead back to two goals. Yet, Claude Giroux countered for Ottawa, scoring at 16:48 and narrowing the gap.
In a last-ditch effort, the Senators pulled their goalie, Anton Forsberg, to allow an extra skater on the ice. Nathan MacKinnon took advantage and scored into the empty net at 18:45. Undeterred, Giroux netted his second goal of the game in the final 13 seconds, tightening the score to a one-goal margin.
Looking at the bigger picture, the Senators have been finding the back of the net consistently but struggling to convert those chances into victories. After a near comeback against Dallas just two days prior, Ottawa was once again unable to finish strong against Colorado.
On the flip side, Colorado’s goalie, Justus Annunen, has solidified his role in the net with four straight victories, seemingly overcoming the struggles of Alexandar Georgiev. In this matchup, Annunen made 26 saves, further showcasing his skills.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred early in the second period when Senators’ goaltender Forsberg faced equipment issues, resulting in Linus Ullmark stepping in temporarily. Although Forsberg returned shortly, he left again just two minutes later before re-entering midway through the period.
In terms of individual performances, Nathan MacKinnon made headlines by earning points in all nine games this season, marking only the second time in his career he has achieved this feat. He had a similar start back in the 2017-18 season.
For their upcoming games, the Senators will head home to face St. Louis on Tuesday, while the Avalanche will take on Chicago the following night.