Cale Makar, Artturi Lehkonen, and Sam Malinski also found the back of the net for the Avalanche, while goaltender Alexandar Georgiev made 27 saves to secure the win. On the other side, Jordan Martinook was a standout for Carolina with two goals and an assist, and he was supported by Jack Drury and Martin Necas, who also scored. Additionally, Seth Jarvis contributed with two assists, while Spencer Martin recorded 23 saves in the loss, marking Carolina’s first defeat since October 19.
The Hurricanes initially took the lead in the game, with Necas scoring to make it 3-2 with 7:34 remaining in the second period. However, the scene shifted quickly as MacKinnon and Lehkonen each scored a goal just 53 seconds apart. Carolina’s attempt to challenge Lehkonen’s goal due to goaltender interference backfired, which ultimately allowed the Avalanche to go on the power play.
With the advantage, Rantanen capitalized on a high-sticking penalty against Jalen Chatfield, resulting in a 5-on-3 opportunity for Colorado. Rantanen scored on the power play with just 1:11 left in the period, bringing Colorado’s goal tally to three in a rapid three-minute span. In the final moments of the game, Carolina pulled their goalie for an extra skater, leading to Rantanen’s empty-net goal with 50 seconds left, sealing the win for the Avalanche.
Observations from the game include the fact that despite having no player on their roster with more than nine goals this season, the Hurricanes managed to win 10 out of their last 11 games before the defeat. On the other hand, even though Georgiev allowed four goals, he showed his strength in net for the Avalanche for the second consecutive game, likely securing another start during their next matchup on Monday.
A pivotal moment came when Colorado was down 2-0 and faced a penalty kill. Makar intercepted Shayne Gostisbehere’s pass, broke away from the defense, and scored with a slapshot, ending a personal goal drought of 89 minutes and 17 seconds. This pivotal play ignited a fiery five-goal period for the Avalanche.
This game marked the first time this season that the Hurricanes allowed more than four goals in a contest and they shockingly surrendered five goals within a single half of a period. Looking ahead, the Hurricanes are set to visit the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday, while the Avalanche will host the Nashville Predators.