Avalanche lose two-goal lead, eke out win over Oilers

Martin Necas scored with 4:22 remaining in the third period to lift the visiting Colorado Avalanche past the Edmonton Oilers 5-4 on Friday night.

Necas scored off a pass across the slot from Nathan MacKinnon after goalie Calvin Pickard made a save against MacKinnon.

Cole Makar had two goals and an assist, and MacKinnon finished with a goal and three assists for the Avalanche, who have won four of their last five games. Mackenzie Blackwood made 23 saves as Colorado won despite losing a 4-2 lead.

Leon Draisaitl and Corey Perry each scored two goals for the Oilers, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had two assists. Stuart Skinner allowed three goals on 12 shots in the first period. Pickard made 17 saves over the final two periods.

It was the final game for both teams before the NHL breaks for the 4 Nations Face-Off, which runs Feb. 12-20.

MacKinnon put the Avalanche up 1-0 at 9:48 of the first period, scoring 5-hole from the left circle on a power play.

Draisaitl tied it 1-1 less than a minute later, scoring on a one-timer from the slot off a pass from Nugent-Hopkins during a power play.

Makar gave Colorado a 2-1 lead at 11:46 when he took a pass from MacKinnon on the rush and beat Skinner with a wrist shot from the right circle.

Perry tied it 2-2 at 12:22. Blackwood made the initial save on Perry's one-timer from the high slot, but Perry followed his shot and knocked in the rebound.

Artturi Lehkonen put the Avalanche back on top at 18:08 when he got behind the defense and one-timed MacKinnon's centering pass past Skinner.

Makar made it 4-2 with a short-handed goal at 6:39 of the second period. Parker Kelly intercepted a drop pass and fed Makar, who was streaking down the slot. Makar scored from the bottom of the right circle.

Perry pulled Edmonton within 4-3 at 7:48 when he muscled his way in front of the crease and knocked in his own rebound on a power play.

Draisaitl tied it 4-4 when he knocked in his own rebound at 15:59 for his league-leading 40th goal of the season.

--Field Level Media