Avalanche score 5 unanswered goals, rally past Senators

Field Level Media|published: Tue 16th January, 22:02 2024

Jan 15, 2024; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Colorado Avalanche defenseman Devon Toews (7) celebrates his goal against the Montreal Canadiens with his teammates at the bench during the third period at Bell Centre. credits: David Kirouac-USA TODAY Sports

Mikko Rantanen scored twice, helping the visiting Colorado Avalanche score five unanswered goals to rally past the Ottawa Senators 7-4 on Tuesday.

Samuel Girard had three assists, Nathan MacKinnon had two assists, and Justus Annunen made 36 saves for the Avalanche, who earned their eighth win when trailing after two periods.

Ridly Greig had two goals, Jake Sanderson had a goal and an assist, and Brady Tkachuk and Claude Giroux each had three assists for the Senators, who have lost six of their past seven games. Mads Sogaard made 27 saves.

Drake Batherson gave Ottawa a 1-0 lead on the power play at 9:29 of the first period. After his initial one-timer from the top of the left circle was blocked, he collected the rebound at the face-off dot and beat Annunen on the far side.

Rantanen tied it 38 seconds later. Cale Makar took a short pass from MacKinnon low in the right circle and sent it to Rantanen on the doorstep for the redirect at 10:07.

Greig made it 2-1 Senators at 1:21 of the second period. Tkachuk's shot from high in the zone deflected off Giroux's stick and hit the right post before landing in the crease behind Annunen, where Greig pushed it into the net.

The Avalanche quickly responded again.

Jason Polin fired a shot past Sogaard's blocker for his first NHL goal, tying the score 2-2 at 2:27.

Greig scored from the slot to put Ottawa back in front 3-2 at 7:21 and Sanderson made it 4-2 at 11:04 when he took a pass from Giroux to the edge of the crease and stuffed it into the net.

Colorado appeared to pull within one with under five minutes left in the period but the Senators challenged for offside and the goal was overturned after video review.

They got it back shortly thereafter when Rantanen cut it to 4-3 from the left circle off the rush at 16:18.

Miles Wood drove to the net and put a snap shot past Sogaard on his blocker side to tie it 4-4 at 4:04 of the third period.

Sam Malinski gave the Avalanche a 5-4 lead on the power play at 8:14, scoring from high in the middle, and Logan O'Connor connected glove side to push it to 6-4 at 12:24.

Devon Toews scored an empty-net goal from deep in his own zone at 15:16 for the 7-4 final.

—Field Level Media

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