Late goal lifts Avs in back-and-forth battle with Wild

Field Level Media|published: Sun 18th February, 21:24 2024

Feb 18, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) celebrates his goal with defenseman Bowen Byram (4) in the second period against the Arizona Coyotes at Ball Arena. credits: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Devon Toews scored a tiebreaking goal late in the third period as the Colorado Avalanche beat the Arizona Coyotes 4-3 in Denver on Sunday night.

Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and an assist to extend his home point streak to 26 games, Jack Johnson also had a goal and an assist, and Ross Colton added a goal for Colorado, which played its first home game since Jan. 26.

Alexandar Georgiev turned away 28 shots for the Avalanche.

Matt Dumba had a goal and an assist, Logan Cooley and Lawson Crouse also scored, and Karel Vejmelka made 33 saves for Arizona, which lost its ninth straight (0-8-1).

The game was tied after two periods and both teams appeared to take a lead early in the third. Alexander Kerfoot beat Georgiev when he got behind the defense but Colorado successfully challenged for offside.

Just 21 seconds later Jonathan Drouin had a go-ahead goal overturned when the Coyotes successfully executed the same challenge.

The Avalanche finally got one to hold up when Toews scored on a wrister from the slot at 13:25, his 10th goal of the season.

Arizona pulled Vejmelka late and got a power play for the final 1:21 but couldn't get the equalizer.

Colton gave Colorado a 1-0 lead at 4:10 of the first period with his 12th goal of the season.

The Coyotes responded quickly when Dumba knocked in a rebound of Kerfoot's shot at 7:48 of the first, his fourth goal of the season. Arizona then went ahead when Crouse scored on the power play at 12:20 of the first.

It was his 20th of the season.

The Avalanche got even in the second period when Johnson beat Vejmelka with his third goal of the season at 5:20.

The teams traded goals 21 seconds apart midway through the second. Cooley gave the Coyotes a 3-2 lead at 9:52 when he scored his eighth goal of the season.

MacKinnon tied it again when he knocked in a loose puck just inside the left post at 10:13. Arizona challenged for goaltender interference but MacKinnon's 33rd goal of the season stood upon review.

—Field Level Media

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