Cale Makar scored two goals and assisted on the game-winning goal by Artturi Lehkonen with 15 seconds left, helping the Colorado Avalanche beat the New York Rangers 5-4 on Sunday afternoon.
The Avalanche lost two separate two-goal leads but won after goalie Mackenzie Blackwood made a crucial save on Mika Zibanejad’s one-timer with 61 seconds remaining, while Makar was serving a penalty for holding the stick.
Makar’s penalty ended with 24 seconds left. When he left the penalty box, he intercepted a pass from Will Borgen meant for Artemi Panarin in the Rangers’ offensive zone. Makar took control of the puck, started a 3-on-1 rush, and passed to Lehkonen, who scored by lifting the puck over goalie Igor Shesterkin.
The Rangers had tied the game 4-4 earlier when Panarin scored from a rebound off Vincent Trocheck’s shot with 4:58 left. Makar scored both of his goals in the first period, including a power-play goal at 5:24 that gave the Avalanche a 3-2 lead.
Makar’s first goal came just 43 seconds after Jack Drury scored for the Rangers. Juuso Parssinen also scored for the Avalanche, while Nathan MacKinnon and new player Martin Necas assisted on Makar’s goals.
Makar’s performance helped the Avalanche win for the fifth time in 12 games (5-5-2) after a six-game winning streak from December 19 to January 2. Sam Carrick and Vincent Trocheck scored for the Rangers within 86 seconds of each other in the first period before Makar scored during a penalty on Adam Fox.
Borgen also scored for the Rangers, who had their 10-game points streak come to an end.
Blackwood made 34 saves, while Shesterkin allowed five goals on 21 shots. Drury started the scoring at 5:43 by deflecting Keaton Middleton’s shot from the point. Makar then scored his first goal at 6:26, receiving a backhand pass from MacKinnon and shooting from the right circle past Shesterkin.
Carrick made it 2-1 with a tap-in from the left side of the crease at 12:50. Trocheck made it 3-1 with 11:24 left, finishing a 2-on-1 play with Alexis Lafreniere by sliding the puck into the open right side of the net.
