Igor Shesterkin shuts down Avs as Rangers win in shootout

Field Level Media|published: Fri 29th March, 01:17 2024

Mar 28, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; New York Rangers center Alex Wennberg (91) and Colorado Avalanche left wing Zach Parise (9) battle for the puck in the first period at Ball Arena. credits: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Igor Shesterkin made 39 saves and two more in the shootout, Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck scored the only goals in the shootout, and the New York Rangers beat the Colorado Avalanche 3-2 in Denver on Thursday night.

Kaapo Kakko and Chris Kreider scored regulation goals for New York (49-20-4, 102 points), which has won four in a row.

Devon Toews and Casey Mittelstadt each had a goal and Alexandar Georgiev made 23 saves through overtime for Colorado (46-21-6, 98 points).

Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon had his 19-game point streak end and he went without a point at home for the first time this season. MacKinnon had at least one in the first 35 games in Denver, which is second in NHL history to Wayne Gretzky's 40-game streak in 1988-89.

Colorado played without forward Valeri Nichushkin, who was scratched due to illness. Georgiev missed the morning skate but was able to play against his former team.

New York got the go-ahead goal when Kreider knocked in a rebound at 9:35 of the third on the power play. The Avalanche challenged it came off a hand pass, but the play held up upon review.

It was Kreider's 34th of the season.

Colorado tied it when Toews' shot from the point was saved but then knocked in by Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren at 12:47. It was Toews' 12th goal of the season.

The Avalanche came into the night leading the NHL in goals scored but struggled to generate much offense against New York. After scoring 43 seconds into a 2-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday, Colorado went 98 minutes, 44 seconds without a goal before Mittelstadt scored.

Colorado finally broke through when Brandon Duhaime battled New York defenseman K'Andre Miller into the Rangers zone, backhanded the puck to Mittelstadt, who beat Shesterkin to the far post at 19:27 of the second.

It was his career-best 17th goal of the season.

New York tied it when Kakko banked a shot off Georgiev's back at 2:59 of the third period, his 11th goal of the season.

—Field Level Media

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