Nathan MacKinnon lifts Avalanche over Rangers in OT

Nathan MacKinnon scored his second goal of the game on a backhander with 2:14 left in overtime as the visiting Colorado Avalanche beat the New York Rangers 3-2 on Saturday afternoon after losing a late lead.

MacKinnon started the game-winner -- which became his eighth multi-goal game of the season and second against the Rangers -- by getting the puck from Cale Makar, slipping past two defenders and getting in front of goalie Igor Shesterkin. MacKinnon completed his 24th goal by lifting a backhander over Shesterkin that went into the upper corner of the net.

Colorado avoided consecutive regulation losses for the first time this season and improved to 15-1-3 in its past 19 games thanks to MacKinnon's dynamic game-winner.

MacKinnon won it after the Avalanche committed a costly turnover near the blue line that allowed Artemi Panarin to blast a shot from above the right circle by goalie Mackenzie Blackwood with 42 seconds left in regulation.

Panarin's tying goal occurred after MacKinnon batted in a rebound from the right edge of the crease with 4:34 left in the third period.

Parker Kelly also scored in the second period for Colorado, and Martin Necas collected three assists for the Avalanche, who bounced back from a 6-3 loss to the New York Islanders on Thursday.

Conor Sheary scored his first goal for the Rangers, who dropped to 3-8-2 at home this season and were unable to win three straight games.

Blackwood made 24 saves after allowing five goals on Thursday.

Shesterkin stopped 38 shots and denied MacKinnon five times before the goals.

After a scoreless opening period, the Avalanche went ahead 7:06 into the second and held the lead until Sheary scored 4:23 into the third for his first goal since April 11, 2024.

Necas circled the net and slid the puck to Sam Malinski near the right point. Malinski's shot got through and was deflected off Shesterkin's glove from the middle of the slot by Kelly, who scored from his knees and with his back to the net.

About 20 seconds after Shesterkin made a point-blank stop on MacKinnon, Vincent Trocheck spotted Sheary in the middle of the ice. Sheary skated by Makar and Necas and lifted the puck into the right side of the net.

--Field Level Media