Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
Makar had a three-point performance and Scott Wedgewood made a series of spectacular saves en route to a critical victory.
All hail Cale!
Cale Makar scored 34 seconds into overtime, and the
Colorado Avalanche fended off the Dallas Stars 4-3 in a statement victory at Ball Arena.
The 2021-22 Norris Trophy winner finished with a goal and two assists. Scott Wedgewood made 20 saves, many of which were incredible, and the Avs improved to 8-0-1 over their last nine games.
Mikko Rantanen made his highly-anticipated return to Denver after being traded twice in six weeks. He received a mostly positive reception during his tribute video, but that was the end of the celebration as the fans booed him nearly every time he touched the puck after that point.
Nathan MacKinnon was also honored during pre-game festivities for scoring his 1,000th NHL point this past Monday against the Chicago Blackhawks in a 3-0 shutout victory. MacKinnon’s family, including his fiancee, took part in the ceremony, along with Andrew Cogliano and Gabe Landeskog. Moreover, Makar and Devon Toews also joined in to provide flowers.
First Period
One minute and three seconds into the game, Jamie Benn sent the Avalanche on an early power play after he knocked over Wedgewood for an easy goaltender interference call.
After the Stars killed the penalty, they scored on their first shot of the game when Jason Robertson found the net for his 29th goal of the season. It all materialized after an attempt to dump the puck by Toews was blocked by a referee, which allowed Rantanen to gain control of the puck, and he set up Robertson from just above the right circle for a sweet goal.
With 8:28 remaining in the period, Benn was penalized again, but this time, the officials came down hard on him with a four-minute double minor offense for high-sticking Ryan Lindgren. But unlike the first penalty, the sequel ended up costing his guys. With 6:11 left, Colton one-timed a shot from the right side of the net and was robbed on a beautiful save from Oettinger. However, 20 seconds later, Marty Nečas scored on the power play to tie the game at one when he redirected a shot from Makar to the upper right corner of the net. Since joining the team on January 24, Nečas is ranked fourth for most goals scored on the Avalanche behind MacKinnon, Makar, and Artturi Lehkonen with seven.
Second Period
Colorado came out firing on all cylinders to begin the second period of action, but Oettinger was putting on a show, including a glove save off a one-timer from Nečas. With 16:28 remaining, Parker Kelly was whistled for goaltender interference after making slight contact with Oettinger, who went down like a sat of bricks. That was enough to convince the officials to call the penalty. Dallas poured the pressure, but Lindgren gathered up the puck and dumped it out of the zone.
Their patience and resilience paid off when Val Nichushkin walked the puck downhill and ripped a shot inside the post for a goal to give Colorado their first lead of the game. That was Nichushkin’s 17th goal in just 30 games this season.
With less than nine minutes left in the frame, Robertson cross-checked Makar in the mouth and sent him down to his knees, yet no penalty was called. When the replay was shown on the jumbotron, the local fans erupted in boos, jeering at the officials with scores of profanity and indecorous gestures.
Jonathan Drouin gave the Avalanche a two-goal advantage when he rifled a one-timer from the right circle with 2:40 left in the period. Colorado had been applying consistent pressure. Prior to the goal, Nichushkin carried the puck down the right wing and fed Sam Malinski a prime opportunity for a one-timer. His stick exploded, but his teammates managed to keep the puck in their possession, providing their wingman enough time to grab a new stick. He subsequently got back into the play and supplied Drouin with the one-timer magic.
Late in the second, karma struck Marchment. When they were battling for puck possession behind the net, Toews accidentally tripped Makar, but the officials called it on Marchment, who tried to plead his case to the refs but to no avail.
Third Period
It was a shooting gallery at the beginning of the period for Colorado, but Oettinger came up big, denying Drouin and Necas from scoring their second goals of the game. With 11:32 remaining, Kelly, who scored two goals on Friday against Calgary, snapped a shot that ricocheted off Oettinger’s mask and into the screen for a stoppage of play.
But Dallas pushed Colorado into deep waters down the stretch and pierced the armor, scoring twice in 20 seconds. The first goal came with 5:48 left when the Stars took advantage of a quick transition, and Mavrik Bourque finally punched one in after a series of spectacular saves from Wedgewood as a quartet of bodies were sprawled across the ice. Duchene scored on his former team on the subsequent shift to make it a 3-3 game after pouncing on a juicy rebound.
Overtime
Makar took control of the puck and, writhed his way through the Stars defense, beating Oettinger with a dazzling goal to win the game 4-3.
Takeaways
Why can’t the playoffs just start now? This was an incredible game from start to finish, with an exuberance of momentum shifts. Colorado has won nine consecutive home games and sent a message to the entire league tonight. Yes, a few goals came through late in the game, but the team responded to the adversity with ferocity. That’s what wins championships.
Wedgewood got the start again because Makenzie Blackwood still didn’t feel well enough to get in the net. Josh Manson was replaced in the lineup with Sam Malinski and Jared Bednar described Manson’s upper-body injury more as week-to-week.
Next Game
The Avalanche (41-24-3) head to Toronto to take on the Maple Leafs (39-24-3) on Wednesday, March 19th. Puck drop is at 5 p.m. local time.
