DENVER — In an intense matchup on Tuesday night, Casey Mittelstadt scored the decisive goal in a power play with just over four minutes remaining, helping the Colorado Avalanche secure a 4-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Adding to the excitement, Nathan MacKinnon extended his streak of scoring at home to 17 consecutive games.
The Avalanche maintained their winning momentum on this homestand, now boasting three victories in their six-game stint, largely thanks to Artturi Lehkonen, who delivered two goals, one sealing the game with 1:08 left, and Jack Drury, who added another into an empty net.
Scott Wedgewood was formidable in the net, turning away 32 shots in his first game back since February. An addition from the New York Rangers, defenseman Ryan Lindgren made his presence felt in his debut game for Colorado.
On the Penguins’ side, Rickard Rakell evened the score late in the second period by capitalizing on a turnover. Despite Alex Nedeljkovic’s effort with 21 saves, Pittsburgh has struggled, slipping to a 1-5-1 record post-break.
MacKinnon contributed significantly with two assists, nearing the personal milestone of 1,000 career points, currently standing at 992. Interestingly, his close friend and offseason training mate, Sidney Crosby, assisted Rakell’s goal, elevating his career total to an impressive 1,662 points.
Additional Insights: Bryan Rust of the Penguins made an assist, continuing his streak to seven games against Colorado. Meanwhile, the Avalanche celebrated a milestone with their 1,200th regular-season win since the franchise relocated to Denver in the mid-90s.
Crucial moments included Nedeljkovic’s denial of Valeri Nichushkin on two breakaways. However, Nichushkin took advantage of another opportunity on his 30th birthday, orchestrating a successful power play goal for Mittelstadt with an impressive pass.
Statistically notable is Lindgren’s entry as the 43rd player fielded by Colorado this season, tying the past season’s record since their Denver establishment.
Looking ahead, Colorado will welcome San Jose for a Thursday night encounter, while Pittsburgh heads to Vegas for their Friday matchup.
