EDMONTON, Alberta — In a thrilling matchup on Friday night, Martin Necas scored the decisive goal in the late stages of the third period, leading the Colorado Avalanche to a 5-4 victory over the Edmonton Oilers.
Nathan MacKinnon contributed significantly with one goal and three assists, while Cale Makar notched two goals and provided one assist. Artturi Lehkonen also found the back of the net, helping the Avalanche secure their fourth win in five games. Mackenzie Blackwood had a solid performance in net, making 23 saves.
For the Oilers, Leon Draisaitl and Corey Perry each scored two goals, but despite their efforts, the team had their two-game winning streak come to an end. Stuart Skinner started as the goalie for Edmonton but faced difficulties, yielding three goals on just 12 shots in the first period. Calvin Pickard took over in the second and recorded 17 saves to stabilize the situation.
The first period was action-packed, featuring four goals combined from both teams within a rapid 2:34. Lehkonen capped off the scoring in the period, giving the Avalanche a lead with 1:52 remaining.
During the second period, Makar scored a short-handed goal at 6:39, increasing Colorado’s advantage to 4-2. However, the Oilers quickly responded. Perry scored on a power play just over a minute later, and Draisaitl tied the game with just 4:01 left in the period.
Takeaways from the game highlight that Makar currently leads all NHL defensemen with 22 goals and 63 points, indicating he is on track for a career year. Additionally, Perry has been on a good run, scoring six goals in his last nine games, matching his total from his previous season with Chicago and Edmonton.
A pivotal moment occurred when Colorado regained a 5-4 lead with 4:22 remaining. After Pickard made an impressive stop on MacKinnon, the Avalanche star managed to retrieve his rebound and set up Necas, who shot his 20th goal of the season into the net.
In a noteworthy statistic, Draisaitl scored his league-leading 40th goal of the season, solidifying his place as the fourth active NHL player to achieve at least six seasons with 40 goals. He’s now third in franchise history for the Oilers regarding these campaigns, trailing only Wayne Gretzky and Jari Kurri.
Looking ahead, both teams will take a break for the 4 Nations Face-off. The Avalanche are set to visit Nashville on February 22, while the Oilers will be playing against Philadelphia.
